The National Trust and Bedfordshire County Council are set to open a new visitor at the Dunstable Downs in Bedfordshire on 9 January 2007.

The new Chilterns Gateway Centre will comprise an exhibition area featuring information on the wildlife, landscape, history and archaeology of the Chilterns area as well as an educational area for school trips.

Additional facilities will include a shop and a café as well as a new car park featuring a £1 daily parking charge, which will go towards the upkeep of the countryside.

On completion, the existing visitor centre and car park will be demolished and the area restored to grassland and chalkland habitats.

The Gateway project will also improve routes around the site for walking, cycling and riding and create a 20-hectare (50-acre) open space for kite-flying, picnicking and ball games.

Architype designed the centre to incorporate environmentally sustainable technology, including an underfloor heating system supplied with woodchips; a rainwater harvesting system to supply the toilets and a windcatcher to provide the centre with air ventilation.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) provided £1.5m in funding. Details: www.chilternsgateway.org.uk