Council opposes plans for new £25 million tourist resort in Fermanagh

by Gráinne Connolly

Plans for a new £25 million tourist resort at Gublusk Bay in Killadeas, Co. Fermanagh has been opposed by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC). 

The Department of Infrastructure carried out a consultation process, and in a draft response the council stated: 

"There is concern that the demand for tourist accomodation is not as significant as the proposal demonstrates."

It further suggests that the area proposed for the resort at Killadeas already provides a wide range of facilities as well as tourist accommodation. 

Plans for the resort were first proposed back in 2011 by Enniskillen developers Townland Properties Ltd. 

The proposal included a 83 bed four star hotel, 68 self-catering courtyard apartments and 10 self-catering lodges, all part of a tourist destination resort in the heart of the Lough Erne. 

The suggested site is around 35 acres of woodland and grass fields, as well as a large area of hard standing along the water's edge. 

Back in World War Two this area formed part of the RAF Killadeas aribase used by Catalina sea planes. 

Taking that on board, the resort also plans to include a heritage centre which will tell the area's history. 

As well as the resort itself, the development includes an 100 berth floating marina, leisure facilities, restaurant and a RNLI station. 

Potentially, over 700 construction jobs and 140 full-time equivalent positions once operational could arise from the project. 

Since the plan was lodged, there's been 24 letters of objection including responses from FODC and Enniskillen Airport. 

Also reported in the Irish News, "Enniskillen Airport stated that the proposed development is within the air traffic zone and in close proximity to runway approaches."

At the moment, the project has yet to be granted planning permission but it's understood that the applicant who put the plan forward, still wants to go ahead.