Councillors have voted to allow SevenCapital’s plans to regenerate Swindon’s listed Oasis leisure centre – but turned down its plans for housing to fund it.

Swindon Borough Council’s planning committee approved three of the developer’s applications to regenerate the site at its July 8 meeting, but refused the final, most contentious one for up to 707 flats nearby.

SevenCapital’s successful applications included:

  • Demolishing the centre’s sports hall and extending the existing entrance with a new building housing a new reception area, changing rooms, a café, a gym, ten pin bowling and mini-golf and creating two outdoor sports pitches.
  • Listed building consent to reclad the iconic, Grade II-listed dome along with internal and external alterations.
  • Employment units (Use Class B8 including Data Centres), B2 (general industrial) and/or E (g) (iii) (commercial business/services).

But the final application the committee considered, eight blocks of up to 10 storeys of residential comprising up to 707 flats on nearby land, was voted down.

Reasons given were that it was not considered a sustainable development, lack of affordable housing, lack of contribution towards education, harm to a heritage asset and its proximity to the Wilts & Berks Canal.

In a four and a half hour meeting, public speakers and councillors lamented the loss of the sports hall and the proposals to build flats.

Cllr Sudha Nukana said: “What was once a vibrant, welcoming space has now become unrecognisable, overgrown and neglected, a stark contrast to the memories we held so dearly.

“For many of us, the Oasis was more than a building, it will always be an asset of huge community value, even if the decision makers do not agree.

“It was part of our everyday lives for generations and its loss continues to be felt deeply across Swindon and beyond.

“We can do better for Swindon than getting rid of the sports hall and ripping the heart out of the centre’s viability.

“We cannot approve the first plan that comes before us, even after so many consultations, to sell the land so that SevenCapital can build 700 flats surrounding the Oasis and open a smaller splash park version of the Oasis in the shadows of tower blocks.

“When they are built, we won’t even be able to see our familiar dome. It’s hard to see what we will have to celebrate on the 50th anniversary of this icon next year and that makes me both sad and angry.”

We have asked SevenCapital for thoughts on the way ahead. We await a response.

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