The developer said the deal marks progress in efforts to bring the site back into use, five years after it shut its doors. SevenCapital has agreed terms with GLL, which previously ran the Oasis before it closed in 2020 amid rising costs and concerns over the building’s condition.
Damien Siviter, Group Managing Director at SevenCapital, said:
“This agreement marks a big step forward in our plans to restore and reopen the Oasis. There is still a lot of work to do, however securing an operator is a critical detail in the process of moving forward.
SevenCapital remains committed to the revitalisation of this iconic community venue and we continue to work hard to bring these plans to fruition.”
The Oasis first opened on 1 January 1976 and was designed as a flagship leisure destination for the expanding new town.
Its dome structure, which houses a wave machine and leisure pool, became one of the earliest facilities of its kind in the country and a defining feature of Swindon’s landscape.
The site stands on land once associated with the Great Western Railway, linking it to the town’s wider industrial heritage.
Following a campaign supported by the Twentieth Century Society, parts of the building were granted Grade II listed status by Historic England.
Only sections of the complex are protected, leaving other areas open to redevelopment proposals.
Councillor Jim Robbins, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, welcomed the announcement. He said:
“Really pleased to see this arrangement is now in place. It is a big step forward for the Oasis regeneration plans and we are looking forward to working with Seven Capital and GLL to make sure that the Oasis will reopen as soon as possible and future generations of Swindonians will be able to enjoy the pool, slides and wave machine!
“With the City of Culture 2029 longlisting, entertainments venue finance announcement and plans developing for Knowledge Central and the Railway Station regeneration we are really putting Swindon back on the map!”
However, campaigners have questioned how significant the agreement really is. Neil Robinson of the Save Oasis Swindon campaign said:
“We are quite confused by the news today, as it has been public knowledge for a while that GLL would be the likely operator for the Oasis again. We had known this since at least 2023, and it was put into the public domain early 2025.”
He added:
“We can only assume that it is now legally binding and that’s why they have announced it again.”
The Oasis has been closed for more than five years, with several redevelopment plans failing to progress.
An early proposal in 2021 would have removed the dome entirely, but that collapsed after the building was listed, limiting what changes could be made.
Subsequent schemes shifted towards refurbishment, sometimes involving the potential loss of facilities such as the sports hall to prioritise the pool and leisure areas.
Credit: Jamierob2
SevenCapital’s wider regeneration model has linked the Oasis refurbishment to surrounding residential development, using housing to help fund the leisure element.
That approach suffered a setback when the housing application was refused by Swindon Borough Council. The reasons cited included the impact on the heritage asset, a lack of affordable housing and insufficient parking provision.
Robinson said:
“It is interesting how GLL have signed up when the housing was previously refused for the site. How will SevenCapital get around that and try to override the previous rejection we don’t know.”
They have proposed an alternative.
“Our view has always been that SevenCapital should scrap the warehouse plan on the former Claires site and put the housing there instead. That way the Oasis Leisure Centre land can be protected for leisure and can expand, rather than being hemmed in.”
While the appointment of an operator provides clarity over who would run the Oasis if it reopens, the central issue of planning approval remains unresolved.
There is also still no clear timeline for what comes next. When asked how quickly Jim Robbins expects SevenCapital to return with revised plans, he said “They have said as soon as they can.”
For now, the future of one of Swindon’s most recognisable buildings continues to hinge on how those major challenges are addressed.
