Graham to finalise Fermanagh health complex design

Graham has won a contract to finalise the design of a health and leisure hub in Northern Ireland.The firm was appointed by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council to work on the redevelopment plans for the facility at the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum complex (CGI pictured).The project is estimated, according to council documents, to be worth up to £50m. It will move to the construction stage if the council approves the full business case later this year.The development is being funded by £20m of levelling-up cash awarded by the UK government in January last year. The council is paying the rest out of its own funds.Graham was selected through Pagabo’s major-works framework.The current complex was completed in 1976 and has reached the end of its useful economic life, the council said last November.The new-look leisure centre will have an eight-lane swimming pool, a separate learner pool and gym facilities. Also included will be multipurpose spaces for health organisations. Public realm features include a playground, a waterfront area and improved pedestrian links to Enniskillen town centre.The council said sustainable construction methods would be a priority in the build of the new complex. When completed, it is set to become Ireland’s only Passivhaus-certified leisure centre, according to the council and Graham.The local authority said it also wants to use the new facility to improve health outcomes in an economically and socially disadvantaged area, as well as boost visitor numbers from current levels.The involvement of Graham keeps the project locally based, as the firm has its registered office in County Down. The firm was ranked 21st in the CN100 2023 list of the top UK contractors by turnover.In July, Graham hailed its latest financial results as a “strong performance”, despite posting almost identical revenue and profit figures as its previous year.The contractor’s turnover increased by 2.8 per cent to £1.13bn in the year to 31 March 2024, while its pre-tax profit slipped by £300,000 to £14.8m. Graham’s profit margin therefore decreased slightly, from 1.4 to 1.3 per cent.