Oxford City Council urging Government for quick decision on new Oxford United stadium
The 16,000-seater stadium at The Triangle site near Kidlington roundabout was granted planning permission by Cherwell District Council in August
The leader of Oxford City Council has written to the Government to say the decision on Oxford United’s new stadium is “increasingly urgent”, after it gave itself extra time to decide.
The 16,000-seater stadium at The Triangle site near Kidlington roundabout was granted planning permission by Cherwell District Council in August.
Due to the scale of the proposal, it was referred to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for final sign off.
But the Secretary of State was given extra time to decide whether or not to call it in on September 11.
It is not clear how long it will take to make a final decision.
The club is currently based at the Kassam Stadium, but its lease will run out in June 2028.
Council leader Susan Brown wrote to Secretary of State Steve Reed MP yesterday (Tuesday, September 30) urging for a quick decision.
In the letter, councillor Brown acknowledged that Labour MPs Anneliese Dodds and Sean Woodcock had already written to him in early September, but that the issue had become “increasingly urgent” since then.
She said: “Oxford United’s tenure at its current stadium is rapidly running out.
“The landowner, who wants to redevelop the site, has said the club must move out by the end of the 2027/28 season at the latest.
“As a result, work on the new stadium needs to start urgently.
“The new stadium – which aims to be the UK’s first zero-carbon football stadium for a major club – would bring a host of economic and social benefits to the area, including new jobs, improved transport connections, increased support for grassroots sport, and enabling the men’s and women’s teams to play in the same stadium.
“The site is also in an accessible and sustainable location, near Oxford Parkway railway station and Oxford Ring Road.
“The new stadium will secure the future of Oxford United Football Club. I know, as a football fan yourself, you will understand how much that will mean to so many people across Oxford and Oxfordshire.”
Friends of Stratfield Brake who oppose the plans for the new stadium have written to Mr Reed asking for it to be called in, and questioning why the city council has not used compulsory purchase powers to buy the Kassam site.
The Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government said the pause should not be read as an indication of how the secretary of state views the application.
Oxford United Football Club previously released a statement confirming that the plans were still under consideration by the Government, and that the club “remains committed to delivering a world-class stadium that benefits both the club and the wider community”.
As part of plans, the club also wants to build a 180-bed hotel, conference and events centre, gym, health and wellbeing and community spaces.