Fermanagh Lakeland Forum Redevelopment

The Fermanagh Lakeland Forum was built in 1976. A building of this age faces significant maintenance and repair issues, which impact on the operation and running costs, including energy costs. The rationale for the redevelopment is based upon balancing the cost of ongoing maintenance and repairs and the opportunity to significantly improve the facilities, and create a modern, high standard facility for all.

The ambitious redevelopment plan will see the development of a first class, modern sports facility at the heart of Enniskillen, with environmental sustainability at its core as Ireland's only Passivhaus leisure centre.

Facilities include: State of the art leisure, health and wellbeing hub; 8 lane swimming pool; Separate learner pool; Splash pad area for young children; Gym facilities; Community and multipurpose spaces; Soft play & sensory room, Destination playpark; Pump track; New cycle, walking and running trails; An active waterfront area and improved pedestrian linkages to Enniskillen town centre. All designed to complement and enhance the natural and historical landscape & increase biodiversity.

Facilities will include space for activity providers to promote their services; A watersports hub / point which includes a reception / gathering space from which there is access to changing rooms; Outdoor sports changing rooms including accessible change, to include locker provisions and boating (non-motorised) floating pontoon platform and steps area to access water.

Buildings are a significant culprit of carbon emissions – accountable for 35% of total global energy consumption. Backed with over 30 years of international evidence, Passivhaus is a tried & tested solution that gives a range of proven approaches to deliver net-zero-ready new and existing buildings optimised for a decarbonised grid and augmented for occupant health and wellbeing. Passivhaus buildings provide a high level of occupant comfort using very little energy for heating and cooling.

Passivhaus adopts a whole-building approach with clear, measured targets, focused on high-quality construction, certified through an exacting quality assurance process.

The redeveloped Forum will have an efficient plan, very high levels of insulation, and building orientation to maximise solar energy and reduce cooling. Having an all electric plant means that the building can take advantage of forecasted increased proportion of green energy into the grid.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council approved the transformative redevelopment project of the 49-year old Fermanagh Lakeland Forum at a Special Council Meeting on Tuesday 15 April 2025. The Fermanagh Lakeland Forum closed on Wednesday 30th April 2025 to facilitate the construction works. The construction phase of the redevelopment is to begin shortly, led by contractor GRAHAM. It is anticipated the new centre will be complete in 2028.

No. The proposed project involves the redevelopment of a new state-of-the-art leisure, health and wellbeing hub on the existing site. The Fermanagh Lakeland Forum closed at 4pm on Wednesday 30th April 2025 to facilitate the construction works. It is anticipated the new centre will be complete in 2028.

Several site options were considered during the early stages of design development for the new centre. Each of these sites were analysed against a range of factors including Planning complexity/ heritage policy, capital cost, deliverability from technical perspective with sufficient scale, increasing connectivity to the waterways, degree of ‘on site’ service continuity and ability to avoid significant utility routes.

Detailed evaluation against all these factors resulted in the preferred option to build the new centre on the footprint of the existing Forum.

Extensive public engagement has taken place throughout the initiation and development of the redevelopment project over the past six years. This has included a combination of consultations, stakeholder engagement sessions, and communications through various channels.

We have been working hard to put in place a range of options to access leisure services during the redevelopment of the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum. Further information is available in the FAQs below.

A temporary fitness suite and studio for fitness classes is available at Broadmeadow Fitness, Enniskillen. Broadmeadow Fitness (former Visitor Information Centre, located opposite the Translink bus depot) is managed by the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum team. Broadmeadow Fitness is an accessible venue. Shower and changing facilities are not available.

Fitness suites and classes are also available at Omagh Leisure Complex, Castle Park Leisure Centre, Lisnaskea and Bawnacre Centre, Irvinestown.

Yes.

An additional leisure offering will be provided at the Council’s Bawnacre Centre, Irvinestown and Castle Park Centre, Lisnaskea from June 2025. There will also be additional leisure and recreation services in local communities across the Fermanagh area during the proposed redevelopment of the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum. Follow the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum Facebook for updates.

The team at the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum have been engaging with sports clubs and block bookers to help them to prepare for the redevelopment of the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum. Please speak to your main club contact for further information on alternative arrangements.

Swimming will be available at the Council’s Omagh Leisure Complex as well as at a number of other venues operated within the public, community and private sector in the surrounding area. These include: Share Discovery Village, Lisnaskea; the Youth Annexe at Fivemiletown College; Ballyshannon Leisure Centre; Cavan Swimming Pool and Leisure Complex; Monaghan Leisure Complex and at a number of local hotels. To find out more, please contact the relevant venue directly.

Swimming lessons will be available at Omagh Leisure Complex. These are bookable by contacting Omagh Leisure Complex directly. Swimming lessons will also be available in the Fermanagh area; the programme and further details will be available shortly.

Swimming lessons at Omagh Leisure Complex will be advertised on Omagh Leisure Complex’s Facebook page as normal. The swimming programme in the Fermanagh area will be advertised on the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum Facebook page and bookable through the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum team in due course.

School swimming lessons will be available at Omagh Leisure Complex. School swimming will also be available in the Fermanagh area. A member of the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum team will be in touch with schools about the school swimming programme.

The Council operates an indoor soft play area at the Castle Park Centre, Lisnaskea. Please contact the centre directly for further information.

Birthday party packages are available at the Bawnacre Centre, Irvinestown; Castle Park Centre, Lisnaskea and Omagh Leisure Complex. Other facilities within the community sector include West End Community Centre, Enniskillen; Dromore Community Centre; Fintona Community Centre and Trillick Leisure Centre. Please contact the relevant centre directly for further information.

A Sensory Room is available at the Bawnacre Centre, Irvinestown. Please contact the Bawnacre Centre directly for further information.

Squash courts and equipment is available for hire at Castle Park Centre, Lisnaskea. Badminton and pickleball courts and equipment are available for hire at Castle Park Centre, Lisnaskea, Bawnacre Centre, Irvinestown and Omagh Leisure Complex. Please contact the relevant centre directly for booking.

Sports hall and room hire is available at Omagh Leisure Complex, Castle Park Leisure Centre, Lisnaskea; the Bawnacre Centre, Irvinestown and various Enniskillen based providers within the public and community sector. Our team at the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum is available to discuss your requirements and provide information on alternative options in the local community.

An accessible changing facility with Changing Places equipment will be available at Enniskillen Castle during normal opening hours.

The large synthetic pitch is available for use and bookable by contacting the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum team during the redevelopment. Changing facilities are not available. The small synthetic pitch and running track will be unavailable for use from Monday 16 June 2025 to facilitate construction works. Synthetic pitches are also available to hire at other Council leisure centres located across the district.

Yes. Grass pitches will be available for use throughout the redevelopment and bookable via the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum team. Changing facilities will be unavailable during the redevelopment.

Existing Household, Inclusive and Fitness memberships will continue as normal during the redevelopment and can be used at the Bawnacre Centre, Irvinestown; Castle Park Centre, Lisnaskea; Omagh Leisure Complex and Broadmeadow Fitness, Enniskillen. The Aquatic membership for the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum ended on 30 April 2025 when the centre closed. Aquatic membership is available for Omagh Leisure Complex. Please speak to a member of the team if you would like to discuss your membership options or email memberships@fermanaghomagh.com

The play park will be unavailable for use from Monday 16 June 2025 to facilitate construction works. During this time we encourage people to visit nearby alternatives. The Council operates 13 sites within Enniskillen that provide play park facilities, with the Round O and Forthill Park play parks located closest to the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum. A full list of play parks available in Enniskillen and across the district is available to view on the Council website here https://www.fermanaghomagh.com/services/parks-and-open-spaces/play-parks/

The customer car park at the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum will be unavailable to use from Monday 16 June 2025 to facilitate construction works. During this time we encourage people to use nearby alternatives. The Council operates a number of free and pay and display off-street car parks in Enniskillen. A map and further information on Council operated off-street car parks in Enniskillen and across the district is available to view on the Council website at https://www.fermanaghomagh.com/services/parks-and-open-spaces/carparks/

The Castle Basin Promenade and walkways, the pedestrian footbridge and jetties at Broadmeadow will remain open throughout the project.