Chief Executive of the Sperrin Lakeland Trust, Mr. Hugh Mills, says plans for the new hospital and the proposed protective elective centre are largely dependant on site acquisition and planning permission being achieved.

    “Site acquisition and planning approval are the most time-pressed issues affecting the Trust’s Developing Better Services and Acute Services Project,” Mr. Mills said at last week’s Board meeting of the Sperrin Lakeland Trust. Mr. Mills had previously emphasised the importance of identifying a site in meeting the timetable for the project. In a press statement released earlier this year he said, “We need to purchase a site with outline planning permission in order to advertise for partners to build the hospital. Proceeding with the purchase of the site is required now to meet critical aspects of the project further down the line.”

    The Trust specifically seeks to purchase 40 acres of land with outline planning permission in the north Enniskillen area on which the new acute hospital and protective elective centre will be built.

    After a site advertisement was placed in the press, 10 applications from private land owners were received by the Trust. Three of these were instantly ruled out because they did not meet the basic criteria. The remaining seven sites are being referred to planning and environmental consultants Ferguson McIlveen for a more detailed study.

    The seven shortlisted sites are located on the map shown, along with sites originally identified by the Valuation and Lands Agency. The seven new sites are located at: Rossfad; on the main Irvinestown/Ballinamallard Junction; in the Drumclay/Chanterhill area; along the Coa Road; and at three separate sites on the left hand side of the A32 road travelling out of Enniskillen.

    Some overlap occurs between sites identified by the Valuation and Lands Agency and private applications made by landowners. Two of the sites previously identified by the Valuation and Lands Agency are also likely to be ruled out as they occupy land belonging to St. Angelo Airport, which is due to re-open, and part of the Balcas site which is still in operation. The Sperrin Lakeland Trust say the list of shortlisted sites is not exhaustive, in that the consultant can report back to the project board if their investigations result in a highly suitable site which may not previously have been considered, being found.

    The consultants, who have been assigned to advise the Trust on the environmental impact of building the hospital on all of the identified sites, are due to file their report at the beginning of April. Implications for roads and public transport along with provision of utilities will be considered.

    The Trust hope to be able to discuss more detailed information on the preferred hospital site at the Sperrin Lakeland Trust Board meeting in May.