ARCHITECTS who worked on the new British Library in London will lead the design team shaping the future of Durlston Castle, Swanage, as a 21st-century visitor centre for the Jurassic Coast.

Members of the public are being urged to have their say on a project expected to cost more than £1 million pounds.

A bid for Heritage Lottery funds will be submitted next February and an answer is expected at the end of the summer. If all goes smoothly the work could begin in 2008.

Visitors can study proposals for the future of the castle and park and give their views during a public exhibition at the visitor centre from Saturday, August 27, to Sunday, September 18.

The new management plan being finalised by Dorset County Council will focus on proposals to bring the castle back into full public use.

The main goal is to ensure the site retains its integral beauty and tranquillity while enhancing the currently run-down areas in and around the Victorian-era castle.

American-born MJ Long and fellow architect Rolfe Kentish have been appointed to head up a design team for the project.

Long and Kentish have designed museum, library and art gallery projects around the country and were highly commended by the Royal Fine Art Commission for their Falmouth International Maritime museum and visitor complex.

As well as revamping the castle, the council is also looking at the different kinds of activities or events which could be staged at the park in the future.

Project team members will be on hand on September 3 and 17 from 2pm to 4pm to answer questions and discuss the plans while park staff will be on site each day to handle general enquiries.

A free shuttle bus will run from Swanage to Durlston between Saturday, August 20, and Thursday, September 15. The service will run every 15 minutes between 11am and 5pm from the entrance to Swanage Pier. A four-seater buggy will also be provided to help visitors with mobility difficulties.

Durlston Castle business manager Martin Cooke said: "We are about to enter a very exciting period for Durlston. With the lease becoming available for Durlston Castle, there are all kinds of possibilities opening up, and we would welcome the public's thoughts on our plans."

First publication: August 18