56 CARNFUNNOCK COUNTRY PARK EXTENSION
CARNFUNNOCK COUNTRY PARK EXTENSION
A major redevelopment is set to transform Carnfunnock Country Park, where McKelvey Construction will deliver new visitor facilities, inclusive play spaces and outdoor attractions as part of a £ 6.1 million investment in one of Northern Ireland’ s best-known coastal destinations.
Work is underway on the most significant upgrade in the history of Carnfunnock Country Park, with McKelvey Construction appointed to deliver an extensive redevelopment that will reshape the popular attraction for future generations. Located on the Causeway Coastal Route between Larne and Glenarm, the 191-acre park has welcomed visitors for decades with its gardens, woodland walks, coastline and family attractions.
The project is being delivered on behalf of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, with Hall Black Douglas Architects leading the design. Supported by £ 6.1 million of UK Government funding, the redevelopment is intended to modernise the park’ s facilities while enhancing accessibility and strengthening its appeal as a year-round visitor destination.
At the heart of the scheme is a new energy-efficient visitor centre overlooking the Antrim coastline. The building will provide an improved reception area, retail space, café and indoor and outdoor seating, creating a new focal point for visitors arriving at the park. Positioned to take advantage of the site’ s elevated location, the centre has been designed to make the surrounding landscape a key part of the visitor experience.
Alongside the visitor centre, the redevelopment introduces a fully inclusive adventure play park designed to provide accessible play opportunities for children of all ages and abilities. A new bike park featuring a pump track and jump trail will add another activity to the park’ s growing recreational offer, while an elevated viewing platform overlooking the famous hedge maze will create a new vantage point across one of Carnfunnock’ s best-known attractions.
The project also includes a new amenity building serving the caravan park, incorporating modern toilets, changing facilities and a coffee dock. Across the wider site, visitors will benefit from upgraded footpaths, improved wayfinding, enhanced accessible routes, traffic-calming measures and revised parking and drop-off arrangements designed to improve movement throughout the park.
Delivering works across an established country park presents a different set of construction challenges from a conventional building project. Extensive planning has been required to manage the programme while protecting the park’ s landscape and maintaining safe pedestrian access through designated walking routes during construction. Temporary parking and visitor facilities have also been provided nearby to minimise disruption while the main works progress.
The redevelopment reflects a broader strategy by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council to strengthen tourism
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