Five years since Oasis closed: what's happening now?

The Oasis Leisure Centre closed on 18 November 2020

The Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon remains dormant five years after closure.

The iconic facility with its lagoon swimming pool under a famous domed roof opened in 1976 and closed in November 2020 after operator, GLL, deemed it financially unviable.

Bringing the facility back to life has had as many twists and turns as its famous "domebuster" slides with funding the refurbishment at the heart of difficulties.

So how have we got here?

What is the Oasis?

The Grade II listed leisure centre was a popular multi-purpose venue that was famous for its lagoon style swimming pool featuring multiple water slides and a wave machine.

The facility also had other sports facilities and previously hosted concerts and plays.

It is also coming up to its 50th anniversary, after it opened on 1 January 1976.

While the dome area would be restored and brought back into use, other plans were put forward for the area around it

Why did it close?

GLL started running the centre in 2013, but the need for serious upgrade work to extend the life of the building coupled with the COVID-19 lockdowns forced GLL to close the centre in 2020.

It handed the responsibility back to leaseholders Seven Capital, saying the building was no longer a viable business proposition.

What has happened since then?

The centre has fallen into a state of disrepair over the last five years.

Numerous attempts have been made to find a way to redevelop the site, most recently by Seven Capital, who lodged applications to demolish the existing sports hall and replace it with 700 flats as well as building a new gym, bowling alley and crazy golf facilities.

The plan to refurbish the leisure centre was approved, but the plan with the flats - which included the demolition of the sports hall - was rejected by the council in July.

There has been no major update since then, with previous statements explaining the leisure centre could reopen next year, although it is not known if this is still possible.

There have been proposals to demolish the sports hall - which has caused concern

What about the campaign?

The facility has suffered from threats of demolition which led to the campaign group Save Oasis Swindon applying for the Grade II listing of the building which was granted later that year.

It means the famous dome will stay.

Since then campaigners have objected to the plans to demolish the sports hall without replacing it.

Many remember famous names at concerts there, including Ed Sheeran, Pet Shop Boys, Kings of Leon, Status Quo and Dire Straits.

Campaigning to get it open again to the community has continued, with more than one attempt to list it as an Asset of Community Value, but the most recent was not successful.