The details of the proposal, which are subject to planning, were delivered to local councilors and the general public during a presentation by the development team at McAlister Holdings last Tuesday evening (1st July) held in the current Marine hotel complex.

Plans for the significant high quality 200 bed hotel, spa and leisure facilities, restaurant, plus conference and wedding provision were announced in conjunction with the expected creation of hundreds of new jobs within the construction and hospitality sectors during each stage of the scheme.

As McAlister Holdings Managing Director Mervyn McAlister explained, the new facility will be of benefit to the entire community of Ballycastle and the entire North Antrim Coast area in general.

"Once complete the new hotel will provide an enhanced facility and will attract and accommodate a high percentage of the yearly 1 million visitors to neighbouring attractions - the Giants Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge."

The ripple effect of this new facility is expected to be felt throughout the local community and will equate to an exuberant spend in the local retailers and businesses in Ballycastle. Approximately 125 construction jobs during building and 225 full and part-time hotel jobs when the hotel is fully operational will be created. The existing hotel currently employs 50 staff so the newly created hotel will provide a significant increase in employment opportunities.

McAlister Holdings Managing Director Mervyn McAlister continued: "Last Tuesday's unveiling is vital to the ultimate success of the scheme as we realise the importance of engaging with the local community and explaining our proposals. Being a local developer with roots in the area we're very much aware Ballycastle is a closely knit community.

"We want to firmly place our proposals in the public arena to give local residents and businesses the opportunity to discuss any aspects of the scheme with us and present us with their feedback in bringing forward our proposals for the hotel before we speak with planners and submit a planning application.

"We believe that our proposals represent a unique opportunity to create a significant tourist facility which will not only be a landmark in Ballycastle but will become a premier destination resort hotel in Ireland. This will deliver a major boost for local tourism and the local economy.

"We anticipate investing almost £30 million in this new facility which we expect to deliver over a two year period. So this is a considerable commitment from McAlister Holdings to a scheme that we believe offers an exciting facility for the whole town and the North Antrim Coast."
MLA Declan O'Loan also attended the meeting adding: "I am delighted to welcome this absolutely exciting development proposal at the Marine Hotel. I have been closely involved in discussions about maximising the tourist potential around the Causeway Coast and am convinced that we need to upgrade the tourist infrastructure in a big way.

"I am equally convinced that we will get the reward for that in terms of tourist numbers and tourist spend. We have an unbelievable asset in this whole coastline. Ballycastle is ideally placed to take advantage of this.

"A high quality hotel on this scale will draw hundreds of new visitors to the area. I commend McAlister Holdings for their enterprise and wish them every success. All statutory bodies and the Council now should play their part in making this major development a catalyst for further progress in Ballycastle."