A new visitor centre designed by Australian design practice Denton Corker Marshall is to be built at Airman’s Corner, which is 1.5 miles west of the prehistoric landmark. The building will have a low-profile design and will accommodate education rooms and much improved amenities with full disabled access. The visitor centre will showcase items excavated near Stonehenge on loan from local museums.
The project involves redevelopment of the landscape surrounding the Stone. It also includes closure of the A344, which currently runs past the monument. The section of the road will be covered with grass and will assist the World Heritage site to reunite with its ancient processional way and the surrounding landscape.
Plans also includes to close the remaining part of the A344 for public vehicles and to use it as shuttle service route for the Stonehenge. The Visitor Centre is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2013. The other work involves removal of the existing car park, toilets, shop and fencing near the stones. It is likely to be completed by mid-2014.
The project has been financed by funding from Heritage Lottery Fund and commercial income and philanthropic donations. English Heritage is yet to raise amount of £500,000 ($778,300) for the scheme.
