Coleraine Borough Council has awarded Lagan Construction Group, along with their design partners McAdam Design, the Castlerocks Environmental Improvements contract which is valued at just under £1 million. Works will commence on two separate sites, one located at the Promenade in Castlerock, County Derry, and the other located at the White Rocks beach and coastal area outside Portrush in County Antrim.
The aim of each scheme is to install various new surfacing areas for both pedestrian and vehicle use, new seating and associated street furniture (signs, bins, hand railing etc.) and to construct improved beach access at both sites.
The White Rocks section of the scheme also involves an extension to an existing shower/toilet block, and the construction of a cliff top path, a cliff top view point over the bay, and the construction of a new bridge across a ravine through the dune system. The cliff top path, view point, and bridge are all part of upgrade works to the Ulster Way hiking/walking trail. Each scheme is intended to modernise the area, but not urbanise it. The aim is to provide a high quality finish that will make each beach area more accessible and inviting to users, but still retain an element/feel of coastal isolation.
The contract is currently going through the design and consultation phase which involves presenting proposals to both Coleraine Borough Council and to local stakeholders. Works is due to commence in September 2013 with an expected completion in Spring 2014.