Work is set to get underway on a multimillion-pound project in Northumberland, which will create around 100 new jobs…
A £14.2m project to develop a landscape discovery centre will start work. The Sill: National Landscape Discovery will become one of the UK’s first dedicated centres and is expected to bring in more than 100,000 visitors.
The Sill, which will enable the landscapes of Northumberland National Park to be “opened up to a range of new audiences”, will be constructed by Sir Robert McAlpine. The firm will work alongside architects Jane Darbyshire and David Kendall; planners Cundall; landscape architects Glen Kemp; interpretation designer Bright 3D and project managers Gardiner and Theobold.
It is expected 100 jobs will be created during the construction phase and once The Sill is fully operational in summer 2017 it is expected to bring in economic benefits.
Chief Executive of Northumberland National Park Authority Tony Gates said: “The Sill represents the largest scale initiative of its kind, in the history of not only Northumberland National Park Authority, but National Parks across the UK.
“Its main purpose is to open up Northumberland National Park and the surrounding areas to more people, helping them learn about and explore one of Britain’s finest landscapes.
“The Sill will, I believe, change how we as a National Park Authority does business and it will become a landmark asset for Northumberland and the North East.”
The scheme has been backed by £7.8m in National Lottery funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Northumberland National Park Chairman Councillor Glen Sanderson said: “None of this would have been possible without the support of our funding partners including the Heritage Lottery Fund, North East Rural Growth Fund, Northumberland County Council and a range of philanthropic donors,” he said.
“We are extremely grateful to them all and everyone who has, and continues to support us on this journey, as we move one step closer to realising The Sill dream.”
Construction is expected to get underway later this month and will start with the demolition of the existing visitors centre.