Lakeland Forum Redevelopment makes a strong impression at the UK & IRL Passivhaus Conference

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s Lakeland Forum Redevelopment project was featured at the UK & IRL Passivhaus Conference, held at ICC Belfast on 7–8 October 2025. Themed Passivhaus in a Changing Climate, the conference brought together leading policymakers, practitioners, and industry experts to explore how Passivhaus design can support climate action and enhance building performance.

Director of Community and Wellbeing at Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, John Boyle, presented alongside Matt Bridgestock of Sussed Sustainability and John Gilbert Architects. They informed participants on the project background, strategic values and priorities, passivhaus pool guidelines and site quality standards.

The Lakeland Forum Redevelopment, which has received £20 million funding from the UK Government, is an ambitious project to deliver a Leisure & Wellness Centre in Enniskillen that is targeting full Passivhaus certification. Once completed, the facility will be Northern Ireland’s first Passivhaus-certified leisure centre and swimming pool, and the first of its kind on the island of Ireland.

Situated on the scenic River Erne waterfront, the redevelopment is designed to achieve exceptional standards in energy efficiency, environmental performance, and user comfort. It also supports broader goals around health, wellbeing, and sustainable tourism, offering a transformative space for both the local community and visitors.

Key features of the new Lakeland Forum include:

• An eight-lane swimming pool, learner pool, and splash pad
• Gym and wellness facilities
• Community spaces for health and wellbeing activities
• A soft play area and café
• Extensive outdoor amenities, including a destination playpark, urban sports park, 3G pitch, cycling and walking trails, and an active waterfront linking to Enniskillen town centre

The Council’s participation in the conference underscores its commitment to low-carbon development and performance-led public infrastructure. The Lakeland Forum project exemplifies how local authorities can lead on climate resilience through practical, scalable design solutions.

The FLF redevelopment has the potential to significantly contribute to the Council’s carbon reduction commitments set out in the Climate Change and Sustainable Development Strategy.

The aim of a Passivhaus building is to minimise the natural heat loss of the building to reduce the energy required to operate it. Passive heat sources such as the sun, human occupants, activity, appliances, and recovery of heat from extract air, cover a large part of the heating demand in a Passivhaus building.

Chairperson of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Cllr Barry McElduff commented;

“We are excited to be developing Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s new state-of-the-art Leisure & Wellness Centre in Enniskillen. This project reflects our commitment to climate action, health and wellbeing, and inclusive design. It is a real honour for the Lakeland Forum Redevelopment to be showcased at a regional conference of this calibre. This investment goes beyond infrastructure – it is about delivering the highest standards of energy efficiency and comfort for our residents and visitors, while significantly reducing environmental impact.”

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council extends its thanks to the Passivhaus Trust and the Passive House Association of Ireland for hosting the event and fostering cross-sector collaboration and innovation.