THE PROPOSALS

We understand the importance of the Oasis and the strong community desire to see this local asset reopen.

Our plans would deliver against this ambition.

A RENEWED DESTINATION

Creating sustainable and attractive places for communities to live, work and thrive is the key driver behind all our developments. Our plans have been developed with this approach and represent a real opportunity to deliver a renewed Oasis that is once again a major destination for Swindon, as part of a wider placemaking approach.

Our proposals will:

Reopen the Oasis, securing its future for generations to come as a major local destination
Take a placemaking approach, to deliver a vibrant, dynamic and memorable place
Create a new neighbourhood, featuring high quality living and new green spaces
Drive local economic growth, as part of a major investment into the town which will boost visitor numbers into Swindon
Support job creation, with two major new commercial opportunities

A PLACEMAKING APPROACH

We understand the strong community desire to see the Oasis reopen. This lies at the heart of our proposals. However, to deliver the complex refurbishment works needed to meet this ambition, significant investment is needed.

SevenCapital have developed proposals to unlock this vital investment by taking a wider view. By delivering an exciting placemaking strategy – to include new homes and commercial spaces – we can unlock the investment required to refurbish and reopen the Oasis.

The reopened Oasis will be at the heart of the placemaking strategy, ensuring the new neighbourhood is vibrant and anchored by a bespoke leisure destination.

Connectivity with the wider area, train station and town centre will ensure the new place – including the Oasis – is permeable and attractive to both residents and visitors.

This includes ensuring the development is visually appropriate and does not have a negative impact on the local transport network.

For example, an upgraded junction is proposed to Hawksworth Way as part of the masterplan. This proposal will improve traffic flow, enhance safety for all entering the site and facilitate efficient logistics operations. We have also worked to ensure the proposals embed a low-carbon approach, helping to maximise the energy efficiency of the regeneration.

Through this approach, our proposals will not only enable the refurbishment of the Oasis, but also create a new place which celebrates and champions its position as a treasured local asset.

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REOPENING SWINDON OASIS

Having opened in the mid-1970s, the Oasis Centre served as a focal point for the local community and the surrounding areas as a major leisure destination. It was a place for the community, friends and family to come together, play and enjoy.

The design of the original dome was ahead of its time. Unfortunately, the materials used to clad the dome were too rigid, and when the aluminium structure moved, this in turn created leaks. Several options have therefore been considered during the design journey, including encapsulating the dome within a secondary structure, or removing and replacing the dome with a new structure altogether.

The proposed option included in these proposals is to replace the covering of the dome, meaning the existing structure will be clad with a lightweight ‘skin’. The flexible material that we have chosen to re-clad the dome will not break. Therefore, the issue of leaks and inefficient thermal performance will be eliminated, while the structural framework and architectural intention remain clear.

The architecture, as seen in many examples, such as the Eden Project, will be a fitting evolution for this iconic structure.

SevenCapital recognises the importance of the Oasis Centre and has been working closely with Swindon Borough Council, Twentieth Century Society and Historic England to explore what proposals can be brought forward to see its restoration and reopening.

Following a series of constructive meetings with these stakeholders, several Listed Building Consents have been achieved, including the re-cladding of the existing dome.

Our proposals have since been developed using the key principles of:
1.   Respecting its heritage and historic value
2.   Bringing the listed Oasis swimming pool area back into beneficial use
3.   Placing Swindon Oasis on a sustainable footing

Against these key principles, our plans will see the refurbishment and ultimate reopening of a renewed Oasis.

A NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD

To unlock the investment needed to refurbish and revitalise the Oasis, our proposals would deliver a dynamic new community, complete with homes, public realm, amenities and commercial spaces, which will be brought forward via an outline planning application.

This means we are setting out the principles of the design, but the specific details are not yet set in stone and will be subject to further detailed planning consents.

Our plans would deliver a new neighbourhood of up to 710 new homes with a mixture of one and two bedroomed apartments. These high-quality apartments will be situated within blocks of six to ten storeys sensitively placed throughout the site.

The Oasis would be the focal point within the proposed masterplan and our design offers much improved visual connections to the iconic dome structure.

The design of the new homes will also be sensitive to the surrounding area, using appropriate materials which integrate with the existing landscape.

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Connecting this new neighbourhood with the natural environment has also been a key driver of our approach to developing the proposals.

Our plans would establish green corridors to maintain and enhance existing pathways/desire lines and encourage greater permeability. This will enable residents and visitors the opportunity to discover a natural environment in the heart of Swindon. This includes creating green corridors throughout the site by maintaining and enhancing existing pathways.

This will encourage greater permeability from the site into neighbouring areas, seamlessly integrating the new community with the wider Borough.

The new neighbourhood will be complemented by a range of new public realm and outdoor spaces, including new play areas, publicly accessible communal spaces and retained trees - maintained and enhanced by new planting to encourage biodiversity.

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A CONNECTED SITE

While the new neighbourhood will benefit from exceptional transport connections, including via Swindon Train Station, up to 260 car parking spaces will also be provided for new residents. These measures will ensure that there would be no significant adverse detrimental impact on the existing road network.

The site also benefits from strong pedestrian and cycle links to the Town Centre and beyond, including the Western Flyer, which is a National Cycle Network Route.

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Set to the north of Swindon Oasis, the proposals also include creating new employment-generating uses which would support new jobs.

These facilities will be complemented by sensitively designed landscaping to ensure that the development does not visually impact the Oasis, the new neighbourhood or the surrounding area. The perimeter will also benefit from additional tree planting to help conceal the facilities from the B4289 and businesses to the west of the site.

This new employment hub will be served by an upgraded road junction to Hawksworth Way, designed specifically for efficient HGV access, to improve traffic flow and includes pathways for pedestrians and cyclists, to effectively accommodate movements to and from the site. New parking spaces will also be provided, in line with a previously approved application for transforming the site for this use.

Once operational, these units will offer new long-term employment opportunities for local people. This significant investment will help to drive business activity in the area, helping to spur growth in Swindon’s local economy.

A FUTURE-PROOFED OASIS

Swindon Oasis is an iconic architectural design, with its vibrant pool at its heart. Our plans use the basis of the original pool to create a modern wave machine, state-of-the-art aqua play and a much-needed teaching lane pool to create a high-quality leisure destination. Set beneath the restored dome structure, visitors would find a dynamic and exciting swimming facility, fit for the 21st century. From new slides to a modern wave machine, Oasis will once again be a major destination of which the community can be proud.

The plans would also dramatically improve the experience of those who visit the centre, ensuring that the Oasis is designed to meet the demands of modern-day users. An array of new leisure spaces is also proposed, including a new bowling alley, indoor golf, state-of-the-art gym, and new café spaces. This would ensure that the Oasis is financially sustainable for future generations. While attracting visitors and spending into the heart of Caption to come here Swindon, its restoration will also create job opportunities in a range of leisure-based roles. Energy efficiency and low-carbon energy sources are also at the heart of the regenerated Oasis’ design. With the use of solar panel arrays and air-source heat pumps, these measures will reduce the carbon footprint of the centre and lower energy costs to put it on a sustainable financial footing.

However, due to the poor state of the leisure centre and the need to unlock the investment required to renew the Oasis, some changes to the wider leisure offering are needed. The existing sports hall is not thermally efficient and would need very significant investment to repair and upgrade. In response, our plans include the provision of new, outdoor, all-weather pitches, known as Multi Use Games Areas. These will ensure a wider offering at Oasis, so it remains more than just a centre for swimming.

REOPENING SWINDON OASIS

Having opened in the mid-1970s, the Oasis Centre served as a focal point for the local community and the surrounding areas as a major leisure destination. It was a place for the community, friends and family to come together, play and enjoy.

However, the centre steadily declined over its original 50-year lifespan. Its mid-twentieth-century design meant that the building had become susceptible to leaks, dramatically increasing its operational costs while deteriorating its structural integrity.

In 2020, Oasis closed after exceeding its original life span and becoming no longer viable to run.

SevenCapital recognises the importance of the Oasis Centre and has been working on proposals that can be brought forward to see its restoration and reopening.

Our proposals have since been developed using the key principles of:

Respecting its heritage and historic value
Placing Swindon Oasis on a sustainable footing

Against these key principles, our plans will see the refurbishment and ultimate reopening of a renewed Oasis.

A FUTURE-PROOF OASIS

Swindon Oasis was a renowned leisure centre, with its vibrant pool at its heart. Our plans will restore the swimming pool as part of ambitious plans to create a high quality leisure destination.

Set beneath the restored dome structure, visitors would find a dynamic and exciting swimming facility, fit for the 21st century.

From revitalised slides to a modern wave machine, Oasis will once again be a major destination which the community can be proud of.

The plans would also dramatically improve the experience of those who visit the centre, ensuring that Oasis is designed to meet the demands of modern-day users.

An array of new leisure spaces is also proposed, including a new bowling alley, state-of-the-art gym, and new café spaces.

This would ensure that the Oasis is financially sustainable for future generations. While attracting visitors and spending into the heart of Swindon, its restoration will also create job opportunities in a range of leisure-based roles.

Energy efficiency and low-carbon energy sources are also at the heart of the regenerated Oasis’ design. With significant energy demands, these measures will reduce the carbon footprint of the centre and lower energy costs to put it on a sustainable financial footing.

We recognise the local interest in preserving as much of the original site as possible. Where this has been possible, we have delivered.

However, due to the poor state of the leisure centre and the need to unlock the investment required to renew the Oasis, some changes to the wider leisure offering are needed.

In response, our plans include the replacement of the now derelict indoor sports and venue facilities with new and improved outdoor, all-weather pitches.

These will create a wider, more vibrant offering at Oasis – ensuring it remains more than just a centre for swimming.

In balancing the feasibility of retaining as much of the wider site as possible with the need to unlock the necessary investment, our proposals represent a real opportunity to refurbish and reopen the Oasis to serve generations to come.

A NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD

To unlock the investment needed to refurbish and revitalise the Oasis, our proposals seek to create a dynamic new community, complete with new homes, public realm, amenities and commercial spaces.

Our plans seek to deliver a new neighbourhood of around 750 new homes with a mixture of one and two bedroomed apartments. These high-quality apartments will be situated within blocks of six to eight storeys sensitively placed throughout the site.

The Oasis would be a focal point within the new urban community. Our design will offer a view through to the Oasis’ iconic dome from all angles of approach into the neighbourhood. The design of the new homes will also be sensitive to the surrounding area, using appropriate materials which integrate with the existing landscape.

Connecting this new neighbourhood with the natural environment has also been a key driver of our approach to developing the proposals.

Our plans include a comprehensive urban greening programme, enabling residents and visitors the opportunity to discover a natural environment in the heart of Swindon. This includes creating green corridors throughout the site by maintaining and enhancing existing pathways.

This will encourage greater permeability from the site into neighbouring areas, seamlessly integrating the new community with the wider Borough. Natural areas which surround the development will also be retained and enhanced. The new neighbourhood will also be complemented by a range of new public realm and outdoor spaces, including new play areas and publicly accessible communal spaces.

While the new neighbourhood will benefit from exceptional transport connections, including via Swindon Train Station, around 200 car parking spaces will also be provided for new residents. These measures will ensure that there would be no detrimental impact on the existing road network.

By delivering a significant number of new homes, our proposals will play a valuable role in responding to Swindon’s recognised housing need, all while being delivered at an existing urban location.

Set to the north of Swindon Oasis, the proposals also include creating two major new commercial centres.

These new facilities will be complemented by sensitively designed landscaping to ensure that the development does visually impact the Oasis, the new neighbourhood or the surrounding area. The perimeter will also benefit from tree planting to help conceal the facilities from the B4289 and businesses to the west of the site.

This new employment hub will be well served by existing transport connections, including by road and pathways for pedestrians and cyclists, to effectively accommodate movements to and from the site. New parking spaces will also be provided, in line with a previously approved application for transforming the site for this use. Once operational, these units will offer new long-term employment opportunities for local people. This significant investment will help to drive business activity in the area, helping to spur growth in Swindon’s local economy.

A RENEWED DESTINATION AND NEIGHBOURHOOD

Creating sustainable and attractive places for communities to live, work and thrive is the key driver behind all our developments. Our plans have been developed with this approach and represent a real opportunity to deliver a renewed Oasis that is once again a major destination for Swindon.

Our proposals will:

Take a place-based approach, unlocking investment to refurbish the Oasis
Reopen Oasis, securing its future for generations to come as a major local destination
Create a dynamic new neighbourhood, featuring high quality homes and new green spaces
Drive local economic growth, as part of a major investment into the town which will bolster visitor numbers into Swindon
Create new job opportunities, with two major new commercial units
Create a liveable, green and active location, meeting local ambitions for the heart of Swindon

A PLACE-BASED APPROACH

We understand the strong community desire to see the Oasis reopen. This lies at the heart of our proposals. However, to deliver the complex refurbishment works needed to meet this ambition, significant investment is needed.

SevenCapital have developed proposals to unlock this vital investment by taking a wider view. By delivering an exciting placemaking strategy – to include new homes and commercial spaces – we can unlock the investment required to refurbish and reopen the Oasis.

The reopened Oasis will be at the heart of the placemaking strategy, ensuring the new neighbourhood is vibrant and anchored by a bespoke leisure destination.

Connectivity with the wider area, train station and town centre will ensure the new place – including the Oasis – is permeable and attractive to both residents and visitors.

This includes ensuring the development is visually appropriate and does not have a negative impact on the local transport network.

For example, an upgraded junction is proposed to Hawksworth Way as part of the masterplan. This proposal will improve traffic flow, enhance safety for all entering the site and facilitate efficient logistics operations. We have also worked to ensure the proposals embed a low-carbon approach, helping to maximise the energy efficiency of the regeneration.

Through this approach, our proposals will not only enable the refurbishment of the Oasis, but also create a new place which celebrates and champions its position as a treasured local asset.

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Download the proposal

Reopening the Oasis lies at the heart of our proposals. However, to deliver the complex refurbishment works needed to meet this ambition, significant investment is needed.

Working in partnership with Swindon Borough Council as part of the Development Agreement with SevenCapital, we have developed proposals to unlock this vital investment by taking a place-based approach.

This approach is founded on the recognition that the regeneration of the surrounding area must complement and contribute to Swindon Oasis’ position as a distinct destination. In response, our proposals seek to deliver a dynamic new neighbourhood with the Oasis at its centre.

Our proposals have been developed by working closely with local stakeholders and leading experts to design proposals that are sensitive to the characteristics of the local area.

This includes ensuring that the development is visually appropriate and does not have a negative impact on the local transport network. We have also worked to ensure the proposals embed a low-carbon approach, helping to maximise the energy efficiencies of the regeneration.

Through this approach, our proposals will not only enable the restoration of the Oasis to come forward, but also create a new place which celebrates and champions its position as a treasured local asset.

Having opened in the mid-1970s, the Oasis Centre served as a focal point for the local community and the surrounding areas as a major leisure destination. It was a place for the community, friends and family to come together, play and enjoy.

However, the centre steadily declined over its original 50-year lifespan. Its mid-twentieth-century design meant that the building had become susceptible to leaks, dramatically increasing its operational costs while deteriorating its structural integrity.

In 2020, Oasis closed after exceeding its original life span and becoming no longer viable to run.

SevenCapital recognises the importance of the Oasis Centre and has been working closely with Swindon Borough Council to explore what proposals can be brought forward to see its restoration and reopening.

Our proposals have since been developed using the key principles of:
1.   Respecting its heritage and historic value
2.   Maximising the extent to which the original centre can be feasibly preserved
3.   Placing Swindon Oasis on a sustainable footing
Against these key principles, our plans will see the refurbishment and ultimate reopening of a renewed Oasis.

Swindon Oasis was a renowned leisure centre, with its vibrant pool at its heart. Our plans will restore the swimming pool as part of ambitious plans to create a high quality leisure destination.

Set beneath the restored dome structure, visitors would find a dynamic and exciting swimming facility, fit for the 21st century.
From revitalised slides to a modern wave machine, Oasis will once again be a major destination which the community can be proud of.

The plans would also dramatically improve the experience of those who visit the centre, ensuring that Oasis is designed to meet the demands of modern-day users.

An array of new leisure spaces is also proposed, including a new bowling alley, state-of-the-art gym, and new café spaces.
This would ensure that the Oasis is financially sustainable for future generations. While attracting visitors and spending into the heart of Swindon, its restoration will also create job opportunities in a range of leisure-based roles.

Energy efficiency and low-carbon energy sources are also at the heart of the regenerated Oasis’ design. With significant energy demands, these measures will reduce the carbon footprint of the centre and lower energy costs to put it on a sustainable financial footing.
We recognise the local interest in preserving as much of the original site as possible. Where this has been possible, we have delivered.

However, due to the poor state of the leisure centre and the need to unlock the investment required to renew the Oasis, some changes to the wider leisure offering are needed.

In response, our plans include the replacement of the now derelict indoor sports and venue facilities with new and improved outdoor, all-weather pitches.

These will create a wider, more vibrant offering at Oasis – ensuring it remains more than just a centre for swimming.

In balancing the feasibility of retaining as much of the wider site as possible with the need to unlock the necessary investment, our proposals represent a real opportunity to refurbish and reopen the Oasis to serve generations to come.

To unlock the investment needed to refurbish and revitalise the Oasis, our proposals seek to create a dynamic new community, complete with new homes, public realm, amenities and commercial spaces.

Our plans seek to deliver a new neighbourhood of around 750 new homes with a mixture of one and two bedroomed apartments. These high-quality apartments will be situated within blocks of six to eight storeys sensitively placed throughout the site.

The Oasis would be a focal point within the new urban community. Our design will offer a view through to the Oasis’ iconic dome from all angles of approach into the neighbourhood.

The design of the new homes will also be sensitive to the surrounding area, using appropriate materials which integrate with the existing landscape.

Connecting this new neighbourhood with the natural environment has also been a key driver of our approach to developing the proposals.
Our plans include a comprehensive urban greening programme, enabling residents and visitors the opportunity to discover a natural environment in the heart of Swindon. This includes creating green corridors throughout the site by maintaining and enhancing existing pathways.

This will encourage greater permeability from the site into neighbouring areas, seamlessly integrating the new community with the wider Borough.

Natural areas which surround the development will also be retained and enhanced. The new neighbourhood will also be complemented by a range of new public realm and outdoor spaces, including new play areas and publicly accessible communal spaces.

While the new neighbourhood will benefit from exceptional transport connections, including via Swindon Train Station, around 200 car parking spaces will also be provided for new residents. These measures will ensure that there would be no detrimental impact on the existing road network.

By delivering a significant number of new homes, our proposals will play a valuable role in responding to Swindon’s recognised housing need, all while being delivered at an existing urban location.

Set to the north of Swindon Oasis, the proposals also include creating two major new commercial centres.

These new facilities will be complemented by sensitively designed landscaping to ensure that the development does visually impact the Oasis, the new neighbourhood or the surrounding area. The perimeter will also benefit from tree planting to help conceal the facilities from the B4289 and businesses to the west of the site.

This new employment hub will be well served by existing transport connections, including by road and pathways for pedestrians and cyclists, to effectively accommodate movements to and from the site. New parking spaces will also be provided, in line with a previously approved application for transforming the site for this use.

Once operational, these units will offer new long-term employment opportunities for local people. This significant investment will help to drive business activity in the area, helping to spur growth in Swindon’s local economy.

Creating sustainable and attractive places for communities to live, work and thrive is the key driver behind all our developments. Our plans have been developed with this approach and represent a real opportunity to deliver a renewed Oasis that is once again a major destination for Swindon.

Our proposals will:

Take a place-based approach, unlocking investment to refurbish the Oasis
Reopen Oasis, securing its future for generations to come as a major local destination
Create a dynamic new neighbourhood, featuring high quality homes and new green spaces
Drive local economic growth, as part of a major investment into the town which will bolster visitor numbers into Swindon
Create new job opportunities, with two major new commercial units
Create a liveable, green and active location, meeting local ambitions for the heart of Swindon

In balancing the feasibility of retaining as much of the wider site as possible with the need to unlock the necessary investment, our proposals represent a real opportunity to refurbish and reopen the Oasis to serve generations to come.