A 49-year-old Northern Ireland leisure centre is set to undergo a major £70 million redevelopment to create a state of the art sports and wellbeing facility on its existing site
But there's been some controversy after it emerged that the redevelopment of the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum will cost £18m more than the original estimate. The project includes funding of £20m from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council approved the transformative project at a Special Council Meeting on Tuesday night. A vote saw 32 councillors support the redevelopment while six councillors voted against. But the meeting also heard of a legal challenge to the proposed redevelopment plans.
The centre, located in the heart of Enniskillen, will close at the end of April to facilitate the construction works and it's anticipated that its replacement will be complete in 2028. The council says alternative provisions will be in place at other leisure and community centres across the district.
The project, which was developed following extensive public engagement, will be the first Passivhaus standard leisure facility in Northern Ireland.
The construction of the new centre will be undertaken by John Graham Construction Ltd and will include a new eight-lane swimming pool, separate learner pool and splash pad for young children; fully equipped gym and fitness suite; community and multipurpose activity spaces; state-of-the-art destination play park; urban sports park.; full-size synthetic sports pitch.
Also included are new cycling, walking and running trails; active waterfront and outdoor events area and improved pedestrian links to Enniskillen town centre.
Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor John McClaughry, said: “By investing in first-class facilities, the Council is ensuring the people of Fermanagh and Omagh have access to the very best leisure facilities which will set the standard for leisure provision across Northern Ireland and beyond.
“We acknowledge that the redevelopment will be disruptive for Lakeland Forum users during the period of construction and the Council has planned an alternate suite of leisure provision across the District for users.”
But not everyone has been supportive of the project, including some party groups on the council as well as patrons concerned by a lack of facilities in the area during the redevelopment.
The Ulster Unionist Council Group on the council says it is deeply disappointed at the decision to approve the proposed redevelopment of the Enniskillen Lakeland Forum and believes the project will not be in the best interest of the ratepayers of Fermanagh and Omagh.
They said: “The Enniskillen Lakeland Forum has been a cornerstone of our local community since its establishment in 1976. It has served as a vital community hub for sports and leisure, and its closure will significantly impact the lives of many residents.
“While we acknowledge the need for modern facilities, we are concerned about the financial burden this redevelopment will place on ratepayers across the district.”
They added: “We have consistently raised concerns about this development on numerous occasions, regarding the increased costs and potential rate hikes. Despite our efforts, information about the costs to ratepayers has not been fully disclosed to councillors. It would be wrong to place such a burden onto the ratepayer, without fully knowing the financial impact this development will have on the people of Fermanagh and Omagh.”
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