Levelling Up Bid – Lakeland Forum

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council have been awarded £20 million to redevelop the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum to create a new leisure and wellbeing centre.

The Forum redevelopment will aim to deliver a wide range of indoor and outdoor leisure and recreation activities, promote health and wellbeing, and increase access to Lough Erne with the inclusion of an active waterfront area.

The development will also include outdoor activity areas that will be designed to complement and enhance the natural and historical landscape and increase biodiversity. The Lakeland Forum’s inclusive intergenerational offer will increase accessibility and promote community engagement, physical activity, and healthy lifestyles.

Designed to Passivhaus standards, the proposed development is a bold statement in advancing the Council’s sustainability ambitions. As a high-quality visitor attraction, the facility and outdoor areas will increase dwell time in Enniskillen, enhance links between the site and the retail core, positively contribute to place-shaping, town centre regeneration, and the local tourism offer. New cycling and walking routes will also improve the facility’s connection to the town centre, facilitating movement and active travel.

The Levelling Up Fund was designed to fund projects which would make a visible positive difference in the local area as well as improve jobs, invest in towns and high streets and protect health and wellbeing.

The Council’s project is one of ten projects in Northern Ireland to receive a share of the £71 million Levelling-Up Fund.  Over 500 applications were submitted from across the UK with 100 projects successfully being awarded funding from the second round of the Government’s £2.1bn fund.  An interactive map showcasing all the projects is available at https://levellingup.campaign.gov.uk/ .

For more information please email: wellbeingandculture@fermanaghomagh.com

You can download the Fermanagh & Omagh District Council Levelling Up Bid below.