The boss of Oasis leaseholder SevenCapital has described the outcome of last night's Swindon Borough Council planning meeting as a major blow for leisure centre and the town.
He also said the decision called into question whether the centre would ever reopen.
Damien Siviter, Group Managing Director at SevenCapital, was responding to the planning committee's decision to reject his company's bid to build up to 707 flats as part of the firm's planned refurbishment of The Oasis Leisure Centre, which has been closed since the 2020 Covid pandemic.
The committee greenlit other aspects of the plan, including the controversial lack of a sports hall.
Mr Siviter said: "The outcome from last night’s planning committee, whereby the outline plans for housing on the Oasis site were refused permission, is a major blow for the Oasis and subsequently for Swindon.
"As the key part of the overall scheme that is absolutely crucial to funding the restoration and revival of the Oasis, this is an enormous setback for the Swindon community, calling into question whether the Oasis will ever now reopen.”
Damien Siviter, Group Managing Director at SevenCapital, was responding to the planning committee's decision to reject his company's bid to build up to 707 flats as part of the firm's planned refurbishment of The Oasis Leisure Centre, which has been closed since the 2020 Covid pandemic.
The committee greenlit other aspects of the plan, including the controversial lack of a sports hall.
Mr Siviter said: "The outcome from last night’s planning committee, whereby the outline plans for housing on the Oasis site were refused permission, is a major blow for the Oasis and subsequently for Swindon.
"As the key part of the overall scheme that is absolutely crucial to funding the restoration and revival of the Oasis, this is an enormous setback for the Swindon community, calling into question whether the Oasis will ever now reopen.”
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