The Conservative administration of Swindon Borough Council will try to have the closed Oasis centre de-listed.

The dome over the pool, built in 1976, was listed at the start of the year by Historic England.

The protection listing gives the building means it may not be demolished and any changes must be agreed after a special planning application.

After discussing the matter with the owners of the building, Seven Capital, which has a 99-year lease on the site, the Conservative group of councillors has agreed a policy of trying to get the building removed from the protected list.

The group says that will make it much easier to renovate the building and have it re-opened for use.

The full text of the statement issued by the Conservative group follows:

"The soaring costs of restoring the recently listed Oasis Leisure Centre have made plans to bring it back to its former glory less viable.

"Swindon Conservatives have therefore vowed to take steps to prevent the much-loved facility becoming the next Mechanics’ Institute.

"Following months of discussions with SevenCapital, which has a long lease of the Oasis site, it has become clear that proposals to give the leisure centre a long and sustainable future are financially less feasible.

"Last year, prior to the listing, SevenCapital submitted a planning application, which would have seen the leisure centre brought back into use with a modern and environmentally sound design. In addition, a successful and experienced operator had also been secured to take on the running of it.

"The running costs of such buildings are very important as only with an energy-efficient building will its future be secured.

"Since the extensive listing of the dome and everything that sits underneath it, SevenCapital has had to go back to the drawing board and work with specialist heritage consultants and architects to explore how it might be renovated, as a direct consequence of the listing.

"The renovation of the existing structure and listed domed roof would add many millions of pounds to the costs of bringing the building back into use and ensure running costs would be prohibitive to any potential operators. Heating a 1970s-designed dome is extremely expensive and is not in keeping with the council’s ambitions to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2030.

"The council has made an application to the government for Levelling Up funding to help with the costs of bringing the building back into use but, even if this is successful and additional funding can be secured from developing the surrounding land for housing, the viability gap remains significant.

"Swindon Conservatives therefore believe the best way forward is to explore the possibility of de-listing the Oasis.

"Such a process is challenging and will take time, but ultimately far less time than trying to work within the heavily-restricted planning constraints caused by the listing."

David Renard, leader of the council, said: "I have said right from the beginning that we want to see a genuinely sustainable future for the Oasis, but it is now clear that it will be much more difficult whilst the current listing is in place.

“Those who sought to list the building, although well-meaning, have done the residents and visitors to Swindon a disservice. However, we will not give up on seeing the pool and flumes being brought back into use.”

Gary Sumner, deputy leader of the council, added: "Officers throughout the council continue to work tirelessly with SevenCapital and its consultants to try to find a way forward for the Oasis.

“However, it is now clear that due to the listing, the costs of redeveloping the building have spiralled far beyond what was anticipated. Finding an operator will also be extremely challenging as things stand with the current energy crisis having a major impact on the leisure industry. With energy costs increasing, any new leisure operator needs a building, which is affordable to run – now and in the future.

“We have talked to many residents of Swindon whose primary wish is for a top-class swimming and leisure experience on this site, delivered within a realistic time frame and we know from our experience of other buildings in the town, what challenges listed buildings can bring.

“A substantially re-shaped building or even a new building on the site would serve our town for generations to come and could come forward much quicker. We will therefore do everything we possibly can to find a way to undo the restrictions that have been placed on the Oasis so we can get it back open for local people and visitors to enjoy once again.”