Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC) has voiced “concern” that the developers behind an ambitious £25 million resort at Killadeas have over-stated the demand for tourist accommodation in that part of Fermanagh.

Plans for the large-scale tourist resort on the former RAF base at Gublusk Bay were first submitted six years ago. Planning permission is being sought for a 100 berth floating marina, an 83 luxury bed hotel, 68 self-catering courtyard apartments, 10 self-catering lodges, a single storey RNLI station with slipway, and a reception building with restaurant, site shop, marina facilities and WW2 heritage exhibition.

READ: Gublusk Bay, Killadeas: Ambitious £25 million resort remains on the cards

In a draft response to a consultation being carried out by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) – which is responsible for making a planning decision on the development – the Council has recognised the RNLI station, WW2 heritage exhibition and the marina as “very important” but has questions about the need for hotel and chalets.
In February of this year, Alastair Keys of Keys Monaghan Architects told The Impartial Reporter: “The applicant [Townland Properties Ltd.] remains keen to progress the application and hopes to get planning permission.”
The Council’s draft response states: “There is a concern that the demand for tourist accommodation is not as significant as the proposal demonstrates.”
It points out that the Killadeas/Gublusk Bay area “already provides a wide range of facilities for land and water based enjoyment and includes: Castle Archdale Country Park, the Manor House Hotel, chalets and marina, the Lough Erne Yacht Club and variety of tourist accommodation.”
It is the Council’s opinion that “further development would need to be comprehensively integrated with these existing facilities to promote tourism and recreational activity with the least environmental impact.”
The Council advises the department that “the Inishowen restaurant at Kiladeas, which is located beside an existing jetty, is currently vacant which may question the need for further restaurant provision. The Council is also aware of the lack of demand for holiday chalets and the current supply of vacant, unsold holiday chalets in the vicinity, which may indicate a lack of need for this element of the proposal.”
The consultation has been re-issued in light of new information the department has received in the form of an ecological impact assessment, a fisheries and angling assessment and a traffic and transport assessment. The Council’s draft response states that the proposal “would impact significantly on an area of woodland.”
It also points out that “another hotel complex (the Manor House) is located within close proximity to this proposal on the edge of Killadeas village and the Lough Erne Golf Resort is also located across the lough.” 
The Council’s draft response concludes: “It will be necessary for the applicant to demonstrate and detail a positive need for this proposal. The Council recognises that there are a number of very important aspects to this proposal, including the RNLI station, WW2 heritage exhibition and the marina which will not impact on existing facilities and will complement them. However, the applicant should demonstrate that there is a demand for all the development proposed, including the hotel and chalet development. There is a concern that the demand for tourist accommodation is not as significant as the proposal demonstrates.”