Plans have been lodged to develop a hotel, offices and a retail unit at the site of the former South West College.

The plans were submitted by the Byrne family of Modern Tyres who purchased the site last year and outlined their plans to refurbish the college building.

A proposal of application notice [PAN] was submitted to Fermanagh and Omagh District Council earlier this week and proposed the regeneration of the former College Campus to provide a mixed-use scheme comprising the refurbished College Building in order to provide a new hotel, offices and a retail unit.

The application includes plans for the demolition of buildings and the provision of car parking and circulation areas for vehicles and pedestrians.

In addition, they include plans for a standalone retail unit with car parking and associated site and access works.

The c. 3.4 acre site comprises a number of existing buildings, extending to c. 125,000 sq ft, including the main college building, a former jail, and a library, both of which are listed buildings.

The proposed plans outline a new floor space of around 77,000 sq ft.

The site is located within the Development Limit as set out in the Fermanagh Area Plan 2007 and designated as ‘White Land’.

Fairview Campus closed its doors to SWC students in the summer of 2021, with services transferred to the Erne Campus at Cornagrade Road in Enniskillen.

While the Erne Campus is widely recognised as one of the world’s most prestigious educational buildings as a result of its design and sustainability credentials, the Fairview Campus was similarly ground-breaking when its doors opened 50 years ago.

Since opening in September, 1971, Fairview has been an iconic feature, transforming the Enniskillen skyline.

Although many of the buildings and communities surrounding the campus have witnessed dramatic changes, Fairview has been a constant focal point and a landmark pillar for the East End of the town.

As part of the PAN, there will be a public drop-in event on September 11 at the site of the former college.

The event will take place between 2 and 7pm on September 11.

 The drop-in event will be attended by the Architect and Planning Consultant to provide the public with proposed details of the scheme.