Passivhaus swimming pool & leisure centre first for Northern Ireland

Fermanagh & Omagh District Council's new Leisure & Wellness Centre in Enniskillen is targeting the Passivhaus standard. Once completed and certified, it will be Northern Ireland's first Passivhaus-certified leisure centre and swimming pool, and the first on the island of Ireland.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Leisure and Wellness Centre. Image credit: Space and Place

The Lakeland Forum Redevelopment aims to be a beacon of sustainable leisure and wellness for its community and Northern Ireland at large, setting new benchmarks in energy efficiency, environmental stewardship and occupant comfort. Located on the River Erne waterfront, the facility combines cultural, social and sport amenities with outdoor recreation, supporting health, wellbeing, tourism, and a resilient future.

The Lakeland Forum Redevelopment will include:

An eight-lane swimming pool, learner pool, and splash pad
Extensive gym facilities and community spaces for wellness activities
Soft play and cafe area
Outdoor features such as a destination playpark, urban sports park, 3G sports pitch, cycling and walking trails, and an active waterfront area connecting to Enniskillen town centre.

PHT member John Gilberts Architects (as Sussed Sustainability) was chosen to be Passivhaus Consultant on the project, which is being project managed by PHT member AECOM. PHT Patron WARM is acting as Passivhaus Certifier on the project.

Key stats

TFA: 6,862 m²
Build start date: 2025
Expected completion: 2028
Certification: Aiming for Passivhaus

Aerial view. Lakeland Forum Redevelopment. Image credit: Fermanagh and Omagh District Council

The project has received £20 million funding from the UK Government to replace existing facilities that were facing significant maintenance issues and running costs. The rationale for the redevelopment is based upon balancing the cost of ongoing maintenance and repairs, as well as significantly contributing to the Council’s carbon reduction commitments set out in the Climate Change and Sustainable Development Strategy.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Leisure and Wellness Centre. Image credit: Space and Place

We are excited to be developing Fermanagh & Omagh District Council's new state-of-the-art Leisure & Wellness Centre in Enniskillen. The project reflects the Council's commitment to climate action, health & wellbeing, & inclusive design. This investment is about more than just infrastructure. By building to Passivhaus standards, our Council is delivering the highest levels of energy efficiency and comfort for our residents and visitors, while at the same time reducing environmental impact.

Councillor Barry McElduff, Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council

Construction

The Lakeland Forum Redevelopment swimming pool and leisure centre has been designed to bespoke Passivhaus criteria in agreement with the Passive House Institute. The project team is aiming for typical roof and wall U-values of 0.150 W/m²K, with lower U-values for the pool hall of 0.110 W/m²K for the wall and 0.100 W/m²K for the roof. Heating and hot water will be provided by air source heat pumps (ASHP). Ventilation is delivered by MVHR (mechanical ventilation with heat recovery) with stratification within pool halls. Summer comfort strategies are being employed to minimise overheating through optimised window positioning and sizing.

Key team

Client: Fermanagh & Omagh District Council
Architect: Space & Place and McAdam Design
Project Manager: AECOM
Passivhaus Consultant: John Gilbert Architects/ Sussed Sustainability
Contractor: Graham Construction
Structural engineer: TetraTech
M&E consultant: Troup Bywaters + Anders LLP
Passivhaus Certifier: WARM & Passive House Institute

Find out more about the project at the UK & Ireland Passivhaus Conference 2025 on 8 October 2025, where Matt Bridgestock from John Gilbert Architects/ Sussed Sustainability will be speaking about the project in the 'Keynote projects - non-domestic' section of the Conference.