Minister of State for Northern Ireland visits Fermanagh Lakeland Forum to hear about exciting redevelopment plans   

The Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Thomas O’Reilly, welcomed Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Steve Baker, to Enniskillen recently to showcase ambitious redevelopment plans for the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum leisure centre to transform it into a state-of-the-art leisure, health and well-being hub, following the successful £20m Levelling Up bid announced earlier this year.   

Meeting with the Council Chair and Council officials, the Minister heard first-hand about the proposed plans to transform the 46-year-old Fermanagh Lakeland Forum building and the surrounding area of open space at the Broadmeadow.  

The redevelopment project includes a new leisure building, designed to Passivhaus standards, with cutting edge sports amenities including a new swimming pool and gym facilities. It also includes versatile community and multipurpose spaces for health partners and others, with dedicated areas for health and wellness activities.   

Outdoors, the plans include a new 3G sports pitch, new walkways and trails, a destination play park, improved access to Lough Erne with the development of an active waterfront area and improved pedestrian linkages to Enniskillen town centre. The overall development will be designed to complement and enhance the natural and historical landscape and increase biodiversity.   

Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Thomas O’Reilly said:   

“I was delighted to welcome the Minister to Enniskillen to update him on our ambitious plans to redevelop the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum into a state-of-the-art leisure and well-being hub.   

The proposed redevelopment has been designed to benefit local people by creating new opportunities for health and wellbeing, tourism and events, better linkages to Enniskillen town centre and its retail offering and supporting the local environment and biodiversity.”  

Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Steve Baker, said:   

“This fantastic project, supported by the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund, will improve the leisure and recreation offer, and the visitor economy of the town and the surrounding area.”

“Levelling Up is all about benefiting local communities and I am confident that the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum leisure centre will do just that.  

“Enhancing wellbeing and instilling a sense of togetherness within the local community is at the heart of these redevelopment plans and I believe it will be a wonderful addition, benefitting Enniskillen and the surrounding area.” 

The UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund supports projects which will make a visible positive difference to local communities as well as improve jobs, invest in towns and high streets and protect health and wellbeing.   

The Fermanagh Lakeland Forum redevelopment project is one of ten projects in Northern Ireland to receive a share of the £71 million Levelling-Up Fund.  

Planning and procurement processes for the redevelopment project are currently underway with the overall redevelopment project subject to final Council approval pending the outcome of a Full Business Case.