Concept designs have been revealed for a £10.5m visitor centre and hostel at the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site in Northumberland National Park.

Newcastle architects Jane Darbyshire and David Kendall (JDDK Architects) have been appointed to explore the initial concepts for The Sill, which will replace existing facilities built in the 1960s.

The building will act as a hub for visitors to explore more than 400sq miles of national park, including stargazing, discovering rare flora and fauna and learning traditional skills such as dry stonewalling and hedgerow laying.

Design concepts will focus heavily on sustainability, incorporating locally sourced materials, heather thatched pitched roofs and whinstone walls.

It will include a café, retail spaces and rooftop viewing galleries.

The local community will be consulted about the development before a final design is submitted for Round 2 Heritage Lottery Funding in December.