The proposed transformation of Swindon's iconic Oasis Leisure Centre has drawn the ire of Sport England.
The national body, which works under the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and is tasked with looking after community sport, has objected to the planning application involving the removal of the sports hall.
Its objection has been highlighted by the Save Oasis Swindon campaign, which is urging people to make their own comments by the Sunday 5 January deadline.
The Sport England objections were detailed in an email to Swindon Borough Council from Bob Sharples, the organisation's Principal Planning Manager - South Team Planning & Active Environments.
Mr Sharples wrote: "Sport England assesses this type of application in light of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and against its own planning objectives, which are Protect - To protect the right opportunities in the right places; Enhance - To enhance opportunities through better use of existing provision; Provide - To provide new opportunities to meet the needs of current and future generations."
Turning to the proposals, he wrote: "The proposal is the re-ordering, demolition in part and construction of new building elements of the Oasis Leisure Centre including the associated site clearance, engineering works."
The email goes on to quote the most recent National Planning Policy Framework regarding how planning applications affecting sporting facilities should be considered:
"Existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields and formal play spaces, should not be built on unless:
"an assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown the open space, buildings or land to be surplus to requirements; or
"the loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location; or
"the development is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use."
The email continues: "There is lack of justification for the loss of the squash and sports hall. While there may be sports halls with community access on school sites, that access is limited to out of school hours which given the high population who are economical inactive of 38% and therefore limited access to school sports halls would not meet their sporting demand."
The email to the council describes the application as similar to an earlier one in 2022, and notes: "As with the 2022 planning application there is a real lack in detail in the layout and explanation on how the centre will work. e.g. how is group/team changing addressed as well as family and disability accommodation."
Comments regarding the application can be emailed to [email protected]
Its objection has been highlighted by the Save Oasis Swindon campaign, which is urging people to make their own comments by the Sunday 5 January deadline.
The Sport England objections were detailed in an email to Swindon Borough Council from Bob Sharples, the organisation's Principal Planning Manager - South Team Planning & Active Environments.
Mr Sharples wrote: "Sport England assesses this type of application in light of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and against its own planning objectives, which are Protect - To protect the right opportunities in the right places; Enhance - To enhance opportunities through better use of existing provision; Provide - To provide new opportunities to meet the needs of current and future generations."
Turning to the proposals, he wrote: "The proposal is the re-ordering, demolition in part and construction of new building elements of the Oasis Leisure Centre including the associated site clearance, engineering works."
The email goes on to quote the most recent National Planning Policy Framework regarding how planning applications affecting sporting facilities should be considered:
"Existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields and formal play spaces, should not be built on unless:
"an assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown the open space, buildings or land to be surplus to requirements; or
"the loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location; or
"the development is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use."
The email continues: "There is lack of justification for the loss of the squash and sports hall. While there may be sports halls with community access on school sites, that access is limited to out of school hours which given the high population who are economical inactive of 38% and therefore limited access to school sports halls would not meet their sporting demand."
The email to the council describes the application as similar to an earlier one in 2022, and notes: "As with the 2022 planning application there is a real lack in detail in the layout and explanation on how the centre will work. e.g. how is group/team changing addressed as well as family and disability accommodation."
Comments regarding the application can be emailed to [email protected]
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