Unesco has called for a halt to the development of a controversial ?100 million golf resort on Northern Ireland's North Coast.
Even though work on Bushmills Dunes is due to begin this autumn near the famous Giant's Causeway after a failed legal challenge by the National Trust, a new report has recommended the scheme should not be allowed.
It claimed: "Given the scale and location of the proposed golf resort development, it is recommended that it should not be permitted as its proposed scale and location in order to avoid adverse impact on the landscape setting and important views of the property, which are part of the property's Outstanding Universal Value."
The National Trust said it would not be appealing against the High Court decision which gave the all-clear for work to start on the 18-hole championship course, 120-bedroom hotel and spa, as well as 70 lodges. It could mean up to 360 jobs.
Instead, Northern Ireland director Heather Thompson said it would be actively seeking ways to influence changes to the Planning Bill going through the Northern Ireland Assembly which she believes should give full protection to World Heritage Sites. She said: "Protecting our only World Heritage Site and other special landscapes in Northern Ireland can only be served by fixing our broken planning system."
Before February's High Court judicial review ruling in Belfast which rejected the National Trust's attempt to stop the development at Runkerry, Co Antrim, a mile-and-a-half from the Causeway, Northern Ireland environment minister Alex Attwood invited Unesco to inspect the site. The report by an expert from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will be presented next month to the World Heritage Committee.
Ms Thompson said: "Minister Attwood made a commitment that his department would listen to the views of Unesco, so we call on the minister to guarantee the protection of our World Heritage Site and other special places in the new Planning Bill which is currently making its way through the Assembly."
Mr Attwood said he was committed to protecting Northern Ireland's heritage. He said: "It is no less around the Giant's Causeway - that is why the Runkerry application was subject to exhaustive, detailed, lengthy and proper interrogation.
"My judgment and decision was subject to legal scrutiny. A judicial review was heard in the High Court. The judgment of the court was issued earlier this year. My decision was upheld by the court which rejected all 21 grounds of challenge made to my decision by the National Trust.
"The planning decision therefore stands. It is lawful. I made the right decision measured against all planning requirements and against the high level of protection for the World Heritage Site given obligations under the Unesco convention."
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