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In one of his last decisions before the June reshuffle, Northern Ireland Environment Minister Sammy Wilson MP approved Lafarge Cement UK's ambitious plans to transform the 153 ha former quarry and cement works at Magheramorne, outside Larne, into a major recreational and leisure attraction with a World Cycling Centre as the central feature.

The Centre aims to be one of the best venues in Europe for downhill mountain biking and is expected to play host to televised World Cup events. An all-Ireland Scuba Diving Centre also features, as does a short heritage railway line and historic visitor centre for the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland.

On 15ha of the site, where the cement works buildings once operated, a new 450 dwelling harbour village is to be created with input from Lafarge partner WWF. Buildings here will be at the forefront of eco-friendly design. Lafarge is to forego all profit it would ordinarily receive from obtaining residential land values on this part of the site in order to help subsidise the non-commercial elements of the project.

Michael Gordon, Director at Turley Associates' Belfast Office said "we are delighted to have successfully secured permission for this important legacy project which was recognised by Planning Service as innovative, imaginative and an exception to normal rural policy.

We worked hard with the Strategic Projects Team and the consultees to address the environmental challenges of this sensitive loughside site and we, together with our contacts in the local community, now look forward to work starting on site potentially as early as next year.