The architect who designs Centre Parcs forest break destinations has been hired by a local businessman to create a new plan for Necarne Estate.

Peter Gamble is Senior Partner with Holder Mathias Architects in London. His firm has designed five Centre Parcs destinations, including the new facility due to open in County Longford next year. The company also has extensive experience designing Butlins Holiday Parks, Forest Holidays luxury self-catering holiday cabins and international leisure resorts.

Initial plans for Necarne include holiday chalets, a new lake and floating lodges, according to minutes of a meeting released through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request and seen by The Impartial Reporter.

READ: Businessman invites Councillors to see his development plans

Mr. Gamble is working on behalf of Dromore businessman Derek Keys, whose company Gardrum Holdings was chosen by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC) last year as the preferred bidder to take over the lease of Necarne Estate.

Until now, any detail on Mr. Keys’ proposed development plans have been kept under wraps.

The estate has been vacant for the past six years and Mr. Keys is currently in negotiations with FODC and the Department for Communities (DfC) Historic Environment Division about a future plan for the 228 acre historical site on the outskirts of Irvinestown.

Minutes of a meeting held at Causeway Exchange, Belfast on March 13 between representatives of Gardrum Holdings, DfC’s Historic Environment Division and FODC have been released under an FOI request made by local campaign group ‘Saving Necarne’.

The minutes show that government officials are concerned about certain aspects of the proposals and that the architect has now agreed to look at a revised development proposal.

‘Saving Necarne’ is calling for Necarne to become a centre of sports, health and healing for the region. The campaign group also want to see the listed 17th Century castle – which was home to the D’arcy-Irvine family for 150 years, up until the early 1900s – to be restored and protected as part of any redevelopment plans.
The minutes show that, present at the meeting were HED Historic Buildings Principal Architect, Brian McKervey; HED Historic Monuments Senior Archaeologist, Andrew Gault; HED Historic Monuments Archaeologist, Edith Logue; HED Historic Buildings Senior Architect, Jackie Stokes; Darren Lawther and Deidre McSorley of FODC; Kyle Porter of Gardrum Holdings and Peter Gamble of Holder Mathias Architects.
The discussion began with the HED officials stating that “holiday chalets in the landscape setting may not be an appropriate use depending on proposals.”
Peter Gamble said that “the strategic proposal was an ‘opener’ for the conversation” and “in no way represents a fully considered proposal.” He said Gardrum Holdings’ proposal has been tabled to ask: “What are the possibilities; what are the parameters and constraints?”
Brian McKervey expressed a concern that “the castle itself is effectively mothballed in this strategic proposal when it should be a driver for economic development.”
Peter Gamble responded that “the castle is an economic liability as it stands and that it is not included in the lease being offered by the Council.” He added that he considered it “of utmost value in the context and that development should enable stabilisation.”
Mr. Gamble added that he found the HED response surprising, given the “inappropriate development which has gone before close to the central buildings, namely the arena.” This is in reference to the £4 million equestrian facility built by the Council in 1993.
The minutes outline that Mr. Gamble then said that “the holiday cabins are proposed as a reversible intervention, to sit lightly on the landscape, along with proposals to reintroduce lost areas of tree belts around new chalets.” 
The minutes refer to the “possibility of reintroducing [a] lake.” Andrew Gault felt this would “be negated by the introduction of floating lodges as documented.” Mr. Gault added that “the parkland itself is an historic asset and that the impact of any development on the original design features of the demesne and planned views within it should be considered.”
Officials then showed Mr. Porter and Mr. Gamble various historic maps of the Necarne demesne.
Mr. Gamble acknowledged he had not fully comprehended the significance of the demesne but that with that knowledge to hand, “discussion could commence on an appropriate and revised development proposal.”
He proposed newly planted woodland with development within and Mr. Gault said this could be explored further as an idea.
Jackie Stokes said that development may be feasible within the listed buildings, for example, the courtyard and the veterinary centre.
The meeting concluded with agreement on a joint site visit with Holder Mathias Architects, Gardrum Holdings and officials from FODC and HED.