Entertainment Swindon

SevenCapital today finally released their proposals to restore and reopen the iconic Oasis Leisure Centre. Todays long awaited official release confirmed the leaked plans from a closed Swindon Council meeting about the Oasis, that there will be now multi-use sports hall, instead it will be replaced with two Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGAs).

The plans for the Oasis promises to restore the iconic dome for the 21st Century, but stay in keeping with the original structure that was years ahead of its time when it was opened in 1976. The proposal is to replace the existing rigid materials and replace with a lightweight ‘skin’ which will eliminate issues of leaks as well as adding efficient thermal performance as used by other structures as the Eden Project. Throughout the exploration of restoring the dome, whilst being sensitive to its original iconic design.

Under the iconic dome, the plans are to keep the much loved wave machine, as well as installing aqua play facilities, and a teaching pool. BUT the equally iconic Dome Busters have been left off the plans released today. The leader of Swindon Borough Council has repeatedly stated that there would be an Oasis with the Dome Busters included, and speaking today to a consultant on behalf of SevenCapital today, they could not confirm if this was just misplaced or that there are no plans to include the three flumes.

As well as the wet-side under the iconic dome, the plans show a redesigned nice modern looking structure that will likely house the proposed gym, bowling alley, cafe and mini-golf.

Again speaking today with one of the consultants working on behalf of SevenCapital, we asked the following:

• The details of the Industry Expert behind the Oasis plans.
• The Industry Expert reasoning behind demolishing the multi-use sports hall and replacing with two MUGA pitches.
• Reasoning behind adding mini-golf and small bowling alley.
• Will there be separate parking for the 720 new flats, or will they also use the reduced size Oasis Leisure Centre carpark?

SevenCapital have said that they have been working in partnership with Historic England to honour the Oasis’s heritage whilst offering new opportunities for the community to enjoy.

The refurbishment project will be funded through a broader masterplan for the surrounding area, which includes plans for up to 710 new homes, made up from 9 high-rise blocks of flats that in the leaked plans earlier this year will dwarf the iconic dome. proposals also claim public spaces and green areas that to date have not been shown in todays released plans. Two commercial hubs projected to create 630 jobs—90% of which are expected to be full-time positions.

With 710 new homes on surrounding the Oasis, traffic that is already gridlocked much of each day on the Great Western Way is said to not have a negative impact on the local transport network according to new plans released by SevenCapital today, but concerns by members of the local community we spoke to today disagreed, commenting on the 710 new homes bringing hundreds of cars to the area, impacting on the already congested Great Western Way.

The plans are now open for public consultation, offering Swindon residents and businesses a chance to shape the future of this much-loved site.

The consultation launched today via the website:

www.swindonoasis.co.uk. A public exhibition will follow on 26th November 2024, from 1pm to 7pm, at Swindon and Wiltshire Institute of Technology, New College Swindon.

Damien Siviter, Group Managing Director at SevenCapital, commented on the importance of the project: “The Oasis Centre holds a special place in the hearts of families across Swindon and beyond. Our goal is to restore and reopen it in a way that both respects its heritage and enhances its offerings for the community.

“This ambitious regeneration programme represents a significant investment in Swindon, addressing housing needs and creating jobs while ensuring the Oasis remains a vibrant centrepiece of the town’s future.”

Speaking to Neil, founder of Save Oasis Swindon, he said: “We are fuming, besides the sports hall that is so vital to the long term future of the Oasis, SevenCapital’s released plans today have shown they are even getting rid of the Dome Busters. SevenCapital have gone completely the wrong angle on this, all their interest and focus on these plans is all about their residential project surrounding the Oasis, along with the warehouses, they’ve shown no focus on the leisure centre itself, they’ve shown no images of the pool and how it will look, no images of the slide, they just care about the housing which is outrageous.

This is going to be a massively reduced leisure centre, which Cllr Jim Robbins publicly promised would only be slightly reduced, this is totally unacceptable, Swindon residents will not allow this to happen”.

Speaking to Tory Cllr Sudha Nukana, she said: “This is not what the community of Swindon have asked for, the plans show an overloading of parking, whilst reducing the size of the current car park, there seems to be no mention of the Dome Busters and of course no sports hall.

In my professional experience, you would not just give a 24hr closing period after consultation, and would normally be an in-person exhibition at the start, followed by a two or three week feedback period afterwards. Smells of a box ticking exercise, a massive lack of respect for residents views”.

We tried reaching out to leader of the council, Cllr Jim Robbins, but he refuses to comment.

The consultation launched today via the website:

www.swindonoasis.co.uk. A public exhibition will follow on 26th November 2024, from 1pm to 7pm, at Swindon and Wiltshire Institute of Technology, New College Swindon.