The UK’s National Trust is attempting to delay the construction of the Bushmills Dunes golf resort in Northern Ireland by applying for a judicial review of the planning decision, the course’s developer has claimed.

The Trust owns the nearby World Heritage Site of the Giant’s Causeway, and was prominent in objecting to the planned resort. Northern Ireland Environment Minister Alex Attwood approved the planning application in February, after a ten year process, but developer Dr Alistair Hanna accused the organisation of attempting to slow down the project still further.

“The National Trust is asking for leave to initiate a judicial review on Bushmills Dunes. This is a delaying tactic,” he said. “Those who instigate judicial reviews cost taxpayers money and slow down development despite knowing the process can't improve the decision.”

A spokesperson for the Trust confirmed it had written to the Department of the Environment to raise concerns, and was considering the response.

David McLay Kidd is slated to design the course, which the developers had hoped to have open by 2014.