PLANS to deliver a top class leisure attraction on the North Star site are quickly gathering pace.

Developers, Seven Capital, have now taken the biggest leap forward to date by submitting an application for outline planning permission.

If permission is granted, work on the £270m project could get underway as early as next year.

Seven Capital took over responsibility for delivering the scheme in July this year, a breakthrough that breathed new life into the project which, just months earlier, had looked almost certain to fail.

Last month, details began to emerge about what the people of Swindon and the region can look forward to when the scheme is completed.

Among the headline features were two ski slopes — a main slope that will be 170m in length and a second ‘nursery slope’ at 75m. Boasting real snow, the indoor skiing complex will be 170,000 sq ft in size making it one of the biggest in the UK.

Also on the site will be a 13 screen cinema and a 26,000 sq ft 10-pin bowling venue. Specialist sporting retail outlets are envisaged alongside restaurants.

Additional parking with space for 750 cars — in addition to the existing car park at the Oasis — is also on the cards.

A hotel with between 100 and 150 bedrooms will be built at the entrance to the complex.

Plans for an arena are not fully off the table, but limitations presented by Swindon's road network - the suitability of which must be demonstrated for any planning application to succeed - means that it may have to feature as part of a later stage of the project.

The planning application will now be presented to the planning committee on November 14 where it is highly likely to meet with enthusiastic approval.

Seven Capital has also confirmed that important remedial works on the existing Oasis Leisure Centre, promised as part of the North Star deal, have now begun.

In the largest area requiring work, the swimming pool, new mechanical plant has now been installed which will reduce the heat and humidity within the pool area, intended to deliver a noticeably improved environment for customers.

John Watkins, director at Seven Capital, said: “When we took on the project in July, we made a commitment to Swindon Borough Council to get the wheels turning by the end of the year.

"The plans for a regional leisure centre are long awaited and I’m pleased we have been able to deliver so far on those important first stages.”

Garry Perkins, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “This is an incredibly exciting time for Swindon and this development, if approved, will be a major part of our plans to transform the town with half a billion pounds of investment over the coming years.

“I met John earlier this week to see the latest plans and I’m really pleased the scheme is moving forward at pace. The investment in the Oasis shows Seven Capital’s clear commitment to creating a regional leisure destination, ensuring we have top class facilities for both local people and visitors to Swindon.”

Subject to planning being granted for the project, work is set to begin on the North Star development in 2018.