Planning sought for major Lough Key development

Coillte is seeking planning permission from Roscommon County Council to carry out major works to enhance and expand its facilities at Lough Key Forest and Activity Park.

The application includes plans to build a new aqua park facility, a climbing wall attraction at Moylurg Tower which would also see the introduction of two new ziplines along with minigolf, tubing track, net adventure, rope courses and mini junior karting.

The plans also include a new single storey extension at the existing visitor centre and enhancement of the Adventure Play Kingdom.

It is further planned to develop the camping site to include 20 new glamping pod bases along with improved car parking.

A reconfigured exit onto the N4 is also being sought while it is further planned to introduce new walking and visitor routes along with landscaping and other new features such a waterfront picnic area.

The detailed application comes under six headings.

The first is the expansion of existing Visitor Centre complex, including:

• Single storey building extension (c. 918 sqm overall increase);

• Outdoor seating / dining and hard landscaped public realm areas and routes;

• Associated enhanced welfare, retail, catering and event / indoor activity facilities;

• Part demolition of the existing visitor centre and demolition of adjacent sheds / stores; and, 

• Ancillary elements including utilities / welfare / energy (including substation and switch room building) / service / storage yard area and structures, bin store, cycle parking store, electricity generator enclosure, rooftop solar PV array and signage / branding.

The plan includes expansion of the existing Outdoor Activities offering, including:

• Provision of new single storey Activity Centre / Hub building measuring c. 279 sqm (and associated facilities, yard, plant, storage, etc.), linking paths / stepped accesses, rooftop solar PV array and signage / branding;

• Provision of wall climbing attraction to existing Moylurg Tower;

• Provision of Zipline attraction (2 no. lines), from (new departure platform zone on) existing Moylurg Tower to proposed receiving structure, associated Landing Zone and access path on Drummans Island, and associated tree / vegetation clearance / pruning of zipline corridor;

• New activities including Minigolf, Tubing Track, Net Adventure, Ropes Course and Mini/ Junior Karting; and, 

• Outdoor activities storage containers at waterfront area.

The third part of the plan is the expansion of existing Outdoor Amenities Offering, including:

• Public realm / landscaping to Rockingham House basement area, stair and platform lift accesses from lawn level, equipment / works necessary for climbing of Moylurg Tower and upgraded enclosing fence at lawn level;

• Public realm / landscaping to lawn level surrounding basement area, partial covering with tensile type structure and provision for incidental trading;

• Enhancements to Adventure Play Kingdom including partial covering with tensile type structure;

• Revision of existing and provision of new pedestrian / visitor routes, paths and incidental features (seating, benches, wayfinding, 3 no. timber waterfront pergola structures, etc.);

• Public realm / landscaping at Church and waterfront area; and, 

• Provision of waterfront picnic area.

A further section of the plan is the expansion of existing Water-based Activities offering, including:

• Expansion of existing Waterways Ireland Marina facilities: i) Remove existing (floating) and construct new (fixed) Breakwater; ii) additional Jetty / expanded jetties and berths; and, iii) all associated works;

• Provision of (inflatable / floating / moveable / removable) Aquapark facility / obstacle course within Lough Key (north of Rockingham Jetty);

• Repurposing (and enclosure with pontoon) of existing Rockingham Jetty area to provide swimming facilities;

• Provision of kayak launch at Rockingham Jetty; and, 

• Associated and ancillary landside facilities as necessary.

The fifth section entitled Expansion of existing Campsite offering, includes:

• Upgrade / expansion of paths, hardstanding areas and services (including 20 no. additional pitches/bays);

• Refurbishment of existing Campsite amenity building;

• Outdoor covered dining structure;

• 20 no. glamping pod bases to accommodate glamping tents/structures and associated single storey service/facilities building measuring c. 101 sqm;

• Additional campsite car parking area; and, 

• Ground mounted Solar PV array.

The final section is Supporting amenity, infrastructure and ancillary development throughout the Park, including:

• Reconfiguration of exit arrangement at existing main vehicular access to N4 road;

• Roads / transport improvements including new coach/bus set down area, reconfiguration of existing car parking, reconfiguration of internal road / track network, electric vehicle charging, cycle parking and extension to car parking;

• Provision and/or upgrade of mechanical and electrical infrastructure including transformer / substation, cabling/ducting routes and public lighting and all associated cabinetry and structures;

• Provision and/or upgrade of water supply, wastewater and surface water infrastructure (including extension and upgrade of existing as necessary) and all associated cabinetry and structures;

• Hard and soft landscaping, signage, branding and wayfinding; and, 

• Site development, enabling works and temporary works above and below ground.

The project is being co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of Roscommon County Council during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.