An ‘ambitious’ multi-million pound plan to bring a new hotel to Omagh town centre will help the town thrive, its developers have said.
Omagh contractors Ballymore Services are behind the plans, which have been submitted for planning permission to Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.
Designs for the 22 room hotel, which is to be developed on the site of the former bank building on High Street, include a rooftop terrace with private hot tub areas, a 100 seater restaurant and a whiskey bar in the basement.
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The project is estimated to cost as much as £2.5million and potentially bring 40 full-time jobs to the town.
Carrickmore native James McCallan from Ballymore told Belfast Live he is hopeful of the plans receiving full planning permission by August of this year.
“We would be hopeful of receiving planning approval towards the end of August, which will allow us to move on to building control at that stage,” James said.
“We’ve had a brilliant process with the Historic Environment division and with the local planning office in Omagh so that’s why we remain very confident that we should be able to receive full planning approval for the designs we have.
“It’s been a long process, Covid slowed a lot of it down but it allowed us to rethink our designs and whatnot.
“It’s allowed us to come up with something really cool, we have designed in a rooftop area which gives you 360 degree views over Omagh.
“On the rooftop there will be private hot tub areas with their own dining area, it’s just something different for the building.
“It’s something that is needed in Omagh, what we’re trying to do is create something that gives as much as it possibly can back to the people from Omagh and Tyrone.”
To be named ‘The Foundry’ due to its location next to Foundry Lane in the Co Tyrone town, the building has lay dormant since 1998.
The property developer added that the plans can bring ‘massive benefits’ to the town in coming years.
“The way I see it, Omagh is our county town and there are some good restaurants and bars in the town, but we feel like Omagh can handle something like this and it will benefit the town ultimately” James said.
“We believe it will encourage other people to invest in the town. Omagh is not spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation and our research would suggest that rooms and a restaurant in the town centre will help Omagh thrive.
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“We believe there is a demand there and that we can meet that demand.
“Everything carries a risk and it certainly is ambitious but we need to put our best foot forward.
“There is a long road ahead, it is ambitious but we definitely do believe that if this is realised it can bring massive benefits to the town.”
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