Plans for new Oxford United stadium approved by council

Oxford United’s proposed new 16,000-seater stadium has been granted planning permission.

Cherwell District Council’s planning committee gave the green light to the purpose-built ground, to be built on land known as the Triangle, near Kidlington, after a four-hour meeting.

Fans watched on in their football shirts during the meeting on Thursday evening, and some shouted “we got it” as the votes were counted.

In total 14 councillors voted for the proposal, three abstained, and one voted against.

The seven-hectare (17-acre) site will be located south of Kidlington roundabout, west of Banbury Road, east of Frieze Way and near Oxford Parkway Station.

The application will now be referred to the Secretary of State, because it goes against the district council’s development plan and is on the green belt.

Discussing the plans, councillors raised concerns about transport, finances and the environmental impact of the new ground.

Adrian Sutton, from the Friends of Stratfield Brake, said during the meeting his group objected on “three critical grounds: greenbelt policy, public safety and ecological harm”.

He said: “The need to relocate is unproven, public safety has not been considered and the application does not take the precautionary approach required by Natural England.”

However, summing up before the vote, councillor Dr Kerrie Thornhill called it “a tremendously exciting project”.

“It’s huge in its potential for bringing community benefits to Oxfordshire as a whole – and to Kidlington itself,” she said.

But Green Party councillor Ian Middleton said he was “disappointed” by the outcome, and believed it would have a “devastating” impact on the community.

“We always said we wouldn’t support building on green belt unless there was local support,” he said.

Among those who spoke at the meeting was club steward Roland Clements, known as Roly, who was concerned about the future of the club if it did not get the stadium.

He said: “I’ve watched generations walk through those gates… It’s where families grow together.”

He told the meeting that the club helps fans to “feel part of something” and he pleaded for the council to “think about the people”.

After the meeting Jonathon Clarke, development director at Oxford United, said he was “absolutely delighted”.

“We’re now one step closer to delivering on our goal of creating a once-in-a-generation venue for supporters and the wider community,” he said.

Oxford City Council leader Susan Brown said she welcomed news with “with huge relief”.

She said: “This decision has provided a clear pathway to the construction of a modern facility that Oxford United and its fans deserve.

“It secures the future of the club and will offer a host of economic and social benefits for the area.”

The club currently plays at the Kassam Stadium and its owner, Firoka Group, has agreed the U’s can play there for two more seasons.

There will now be an option to extend the deal for another year, which was conditional on planning permission for the club’s proposed new stadium being granted.

The council received about 4,900 responses from the public about the application and its planning report contained details of objections from local campaigners.

The U’s new complex is expected to include a 180-bed hotel, restaurant, conference centre and community plaza.

There were concerns that the proposed stadium would be built near ancient woodland but Natural England concluded that would not be the case.