Piling works have been completed at the site of the £70m redevelopment of Fermanagh Lakeland Forum in Enniskillen.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council said the completion of piling allows work to move into below-ground construction, including drainage and foundation installation. Work is also continuing on a new car park and access road.

Portadown-based Irwin M&E has been appointed to deliver the Mechanical, Electrical and Public Health package for the project. The company will provide mechanical and electrical systems, public health infrastructure and energy-efficient solutions.

The existing facility is being replaced by a new leisure, health and wellbeing hub. It is set to be the first Passivhaus-certified leisure centre on the island of Ireland, with energy efficiency and sustainability central to its design.

The development is being delivered by GRAHAM in partnership with the council and supported by £20 million in UK Government funding. Completion is due in 2028. The new facility will include swimming pools, a gym and fitness suite, community wellbeing spaces, a sensory room, soft play and a cafe. Outdoor facilities will include a destination play park, pump track, 3G pitch, active waterfront and walking and cycling trails.

Former council chairman Cllr Barry McElduff said the project remains on target. He described the piling completion as an important milestone, with the next stages of construction already underway.

The project is also providing opportunities for young people in the construction industry. Students from South West College's Level 3 Construction and the Built Environment course visited the site as part of a two-day programme. They attended an industry talk with GRAHAM representatives and met professionals working on the project. John Moss, Head of Department for Sustainability, Construction and Transport at South West College, said the experience would give students skills to pursue careers in construction.