The National Trust has submitted plans for a £18m Giant's Causeway visitor centre.

The proposed centre would attract a £6m direct investment from the Trust.

The County Antrim world wonder, whose original visitors' area was destroyed in a blaze in 2000, has been the subject of much controversy, particularly during the last year.

While legend tells how Irish giant Finn McCool formed the causeway, in recent times it has been Stormont heavyweights that have stamping their powerful feet over the future of the site.

Ian Paisley Junior, following wrangling in the press, eventually stepped down as a Stormont Junior Minister after it was suggested he had links with a potential developer, Seymour Sweeney, who had expressed an interest in the development.

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Previously, the then DUP Environment Minister, Arlene Foster, had said her department was "minded" to consider Mr Sweeney’s proposals. This decision was later reversed.

Mr Paisley strenuously denied any allegations of misconduct on his part.

Since then the National Trust and Moyle District Council, who own part of the site, have made "enormous progress", according to Hilary McGrady, Trust Director in Northern Ireland.

Ms McGrady told the BBC: "We are confident and determined to deliver visitor facilities which will enhance tourism and benefit the local area and indeed everyone in Northern Ireland."

Ms McGrady has suggested, that by levering other sources of funding, the tax-payers’ contribution to the cost could be "less than half of the £21m previously anticipated".

"Key to all of this is that this investment will ensure that the Giant's Causeway visitor facilities remain in public ownership," said Ms McGrady.

Provided planning permission is granted, funding is put in place and the tender process is agreed, the National Trust expects work to start by the end of 2009, with the eventual visitors’ centre being open to the public in early 2011.

An award winning Dublin-based architect’s design for the project has been selected by the trust.

(PR)