Latest news with #SevenCapital
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Council approves Swindon Oasis rebuild but scraps plan for flats
Shouts of "shame" rang out from members of the public as councillors approved plans to rebuild a leisure centre but without a sports Oasis, famous for its lagoon pool under a domed roof, opened in 1976 but has been closed since and landlord Seven Capital wanted to renovate the leisure centre and demolish its sports hall and use the space to build 700 flats in eight tower blocks along with business Swindon Borough Council's planning committee refused permission for the flats to be built on the site - a decision which could be crucial to the funding of the leisure centre refurbishment. It was apparent that most of the public attending were opposed to the plans submitted by the centre's de facto owner and leaseholder, Seven Capital, the Local Democracy Reporting Service owner's proposals, which had been recommended by planning officers for approval, would see the listed dome and pool kept, the sports hall demolished and a new "dry side" built, including a café, a gym, an indoor crazy golf course and a ten-pin bowling loss of the sports hall, which had also been used as a concert venue, was the sticking point for the protesters and some councillors. Councillor Sudha Sri Nukana drew loud applause when she spoke against the proposal."It's hard to see what we will have to celebrate on the 50th anniversary – that makes people sad and angry. Do the right thing and refuse this application," she Handley from Seven Capital said they had amended their plans after an extensive public consultation. "We can bring back to life the Oasis to benefit the community and Swindon," he said. Opposition also came from the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, Swindon Pickleball Club, and the Save Oasis Swindon Kevin Small, Emma Bushell and Marina Strinkovsky spoke in favour of the council's decision to approve the plans now offer the faintest hopes that the centre might be open at some point in 2026.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Oasis leisure centre future to be decided at council meeting
Councillors are due to vote on whether to allow the redevelopment of an iconic leisure centre, bringing with it hundreds of Oasis, famous for its lagoon pool under a domed roof and rumoured to have inspired the naming of the Britpop band now making its own comeback, opened in 1976 but has been permanently closed since 2020. Developer and landlord Seven Capital wants to renovate the leisure centre and demolish its sports hall, building 700 flats in eight tower blocks and business units around Borough Council's planning committee meets at the civic offices at 18:00 BST, with the plans recommended for approval. The plans are the latest incarnation of attempts to redevelop Swindon's North Star site, with the previous plans for an indoor ski centre having been feature a fully renovated dome and lagoon, a raft of new sport facilities including a gym, indoor golf, a bowling alley, and new all-weather multi-sport to the anger of campaigners, the sports hall would be demolished and the wider site surrounded by apartment land once earmarked for the ski centre will now become large business units including a vast data centre, but how did we get here? History of the Oasis In its heyday, the Oasis became the envy of the region for leisure unique lagoon pool, set out like a tropical cove with real waves and 'domebuster' flumes, was one of the first examples of a public pool designed for pleasure rather than simply cultural significance is why its dome-covered lagoon was declared a Grade II listed building by Historic England in large adjoining sports hall also played host to countless concerts over the had been owned and run by Swindon Borough Council, but that all changed in with putting leisure centres at risk of public spending cuts, the council handed over the running of its leisure facilities including the Oasis to operator the council also recognised that without significant upgrade work, the Oasis was nearing the end of its life - so to secure new investment and with the hope of triggering wider regeneration, it signed up to the first of several attempts at a development deal. Morai Capital Investments took control of the Oasis with a 99-year lease, promising not just to improve the Oasis but create a vast redevelopment including a ski centre and large concert venue around it, projected to attract four million visitors a after disagreements, a lack of progress and missed deadlines, the council eventually scrapped the development deal with developer landlord Seven Capital was handed the lease instead, eventually securing planning permission for one of the country's largest indoor ski centres, an iMax cinema, concert venue and hotel complex on the surrounding faced its own delays in securing funding but the developer said in October 2019 there was "no chance that we won't be building the snow centre". That never the Covid 19 pandemic struck, the Oasis never reopened after the second lockdown of GLL handed back its lease saying the building was no longer a viable business Oasis fell into a state of disrepair. A very public Save Oasis Swindon campaign began with their patience tested with a perceived lack of progress and revised plans to replace the ageing dome with a more conventional the Grade II listing happened, Swindon Borough Council's previous Conservative administration attempted to get it removed, worried the protected status made redevelopment plans prohibitively remain it did, as the lack of progress on the Oasis became a political football as Swindon switched hands from Conservative to Labour 2023 the new Labour administration's priority shifted toward securing the future of the Oasis, at the expense of the wider administration has repeatedly claimed its approach with Seven Capital could see the famous leisure centre reopen in 2026, but given planning permission has not even been secured yet some might say that claim looks highly unlikely.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Latest on Oasis leisure centre plans as decision looms
As a decision day approaches on Seven Capitals' plans to rebuild the Oasis leisure centre without a sports hall, it appears Save Oasis Swindon's third bid to have the centre made an asset of community value will not delay the planning committee meeting. Swindon Borough Council has indicated that the two processes are separate after SOS said it expected the newest bid to mean a delay in the planning process. Advertisement The group has also responded to concerns that a delay to the planning committee meeting has little effect other than to delay any re-opening of the centre, shut since October 2020. It said: 'The delay would be minor and limited to a month or so, it would buy some additional time for further objections, but that is not necessarily why we are launching a third ACV attempt. 'The reason why we are trying for a third time. is because we seem to be unravelling more information we didn't know previously, with each application attempt. It's taken two ACV attempts so far to finally elicit the restoration or rebuild estimates from Seven Capital. We have been asking for this for nearly five years from them.' READ MORE: Solar panels could be set for roof of STEAM Museum Advertisement A borough council briefing of cabinet members, seen by the Local Democracy Reporter, quotes Seven Capital as saying it would cost £11m to restore the current hall, or between £5.9m and £11.4m to demolish and rebuild. The group disputes that and says Sports England's website says a hall comparable to the existing one would cost £4m. It added: 'Seven Capital claimed in our second rejection that it would not be realistic to expect a community interest group to raise up to £11m. However, the figure we have obtained is far smaller and more achievable. READ MORE: Second bid to make Oasis 'asset of community value' turned down Advertisement READ MORE: Campaign group's new Oasis bid could delay permission for rebuild 'Swindon has a proven record of successfully establishing community trusts, community management, grant applications, sponsorships, trust memberships and more. ' The group also says its desire to see the centre opened with hall intact is not preventing a swift refurbishment and re-opening of the centre, keeping it closed rather than open without a hall. Its spokesperson said: 'It's a tedious argument that we are trying to revive an old relic from 1976. However, let's remember that the people of Swindon love the Oasis in its current form. Advertisement 'The people of Swindon are the previous and future customers of the Oasis and know best, not a shareholder in London. It is actually testament to the Oasis, that it's been a major sporting and entertainment hub for Swindon for nearly 50 years, and that must continue.' READ MORE: Hundreds object to loss of sports hall in Oasis plans He added: 'It is not unreasonable, or old-fashioned to want a full leisure centre with pool and sports hall. Sports halls are not a relic of the past; many new leisure centres get built with sports halls. 'For a town the size of Swindon that's fast-growing, 240,000 people, we are asking for the bare minimum back at the Oasis, and that is the dry side hall and pool model. Advertisement 'Seven Capital has always pushed the non-viable line, but never has evidence been released of this.' Days before the council's planning committee meets to decide on the plans, the group said: 'We have always been open-minded to either a restoration or full rebuild of the Hall. The people of Swindon want the Oasis back how it was, even better. 'It is culturally an iconic and famous landmark in the town, even more so with the band reforming. We should not be forced to lose half of our iconic leisure centre to greed. 'Picture the community outrage when the bulldozers go steaming in to demolish half of the Oasis. Once it's gone, we will never get it back which is why it is paramount we ensure the current plans do not get approved. We need the restoration or rebuild of a hall at the Oasis, not a quick political win with a rebuilt half version.' The planning committee meets at 6pm on Tuesday, July 8.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Leisure centre revival has planning officer backing
Plans to rebuild a derelict leisure centre – and construct 700 flats around it – have been recommended for approval at an upcoming council vote. Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon has been closed since 2020 after its landlord Seven Capital concluded it was "not viable" because of the pandemic. Swindon Borough councillors will vote on Seven Capital's new plans to transform the site – which would see its listed pool and dome retained – on 8 July. The proposals includes 707 flats, to be built in eight tower blocks around the leisure centre. Planning officers recommended the plans despite more than 300 members of the public objecting, mainly due to plans to demolish a sports hall without replacing it. More news stories for Wiltshire Listen to the latest news for Wiltshire Two industrial units could also be built on the cleared Clare's factory site across the road, which was once earmarked by Seven Capital for a large indoor snow centre, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Recommending the plans be approved, a council officer wrote in a report: "The consenting of the development would thus allow for the clear public benefit of assisting in bringing the much-loved Oasis swimming pool back into use and re-introducing an important and unique leisure and fitness offer to the town." The report added the homes were "much needed" and that "adverse impacts of the development would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the identified benefit". On 30 June, campaigners lost a bid to turn the leisure centre into an asset of community value for a second time. It would have allowed a six-month pause to see if a community group could take it on and run it when the owner wanted to sell. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Oasis Leisure Centre could reopen in 2026 Leisure centre will not be listed as community asset Swindon's six leisure centres secured for 15 years Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Oasis Leisure Centre renovation wins planning officer backing
Plans to rebuild a derelict leisure centre – and construct 700 flats around it – have been recommended for approval at an upcoming council Leisure Centre in Swindon has been closed since 2020 after its landlord Seven Capital concluded it was "not viable" because of the Borough councillors will vote on Seven Capital's new plans to transform the site – which would see its listed pool and dome retained – on 8 July. The proposals includes 707 flats, to be built in eight tower blocks around the leisure officers recommended the plans despite more than 300 members of the public objecting, mainly due to plans to demolish a sports hall without replacing it. Two industrial units could also be built on the cleared Clare's factory site across the road, which was once earmarked by Seven Capital for a large indoor snow centre, according to the Local Democracy Reporting the plans be approved, a council officer wrote in a report: "The consenting of the development would thus allow for the clear public benefit of assisting in bringing the much-loved Oasis swimming pool back into use and re-introducing an important and unique leisure and fitness offer to the town."The report added the homes were "much needed" and that "adverse impacts of the development would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the identified benefit".On 30 June, campaigners lost a bid to turn the leisure centre into an asset of community value for a second would have allowed a six-month pause to see if a community group could take it on and run it when the owner wanted to sell.
