Oxford United face new stadium delay

Article posted by Coliseum, February 27^th, 2025

Image: Oxford United

EFL Championship club Oxford United will have to wait a little longer for a decision on their proposed new stadium as planners have been given more time to review the scheme.

The Oxford Mail said the proposals will not be considered until June at the earliest, after a request for an extension to allow Cherwell District Council more time to review additional information which has been submitted.

The club is planning to build a 16,000-capacity stadium on land known as the ‘Triangle’, near Kidlington (UK) in Oxfordshire, and will include a 180-bed hotel, restaurant, conference center, health and wellbeing space, gym, and a community plaza.

The district council has undertaken a period of statutory re-consultation in the New Year ‘following the receipt of additional environmental information’ from Oxford United.

The club submitted an environmental statement addendum, revised application documents and revised plans at the end of 2024.

Oxford United Football Club is a professional association football club in the City of Oxford, England (UK). The team currently competes in the EFL Championship, the second level of the English football league system.

The club currently plays at the 12,500-capacity Kassam Stadium (also known as Grenoble Road), a ground named after the Owner and the former Chairman of the football club Firoz Kassam.

The Oxford Mail further stated that more statutory consultation responses from key stakeholders on highways, ecology and biodiversity are still being considered in light of the updated environmental statement addendum.

United reported that both a transport assessment and ecology assessment may need to be further updated once this information has been provided.

Following the statutory re-consultation in the New Year, the earliest that Cherwell can now provide a decision on the proposed stadium is June 5, as opposed to the previous target decision date which was March 31.

The new date is however subject to change, although the club says it is ‘focused on securing a determination on this date’.

Oxford United’s development director Jonathon Clarke said: “I’d like to reassure our supporters that planning extensions such as this are common practice with significant developments which require extensive studies and careful examination.

“We continue to have positive meetings with key stakeholders and fully appreciate the need to ensure everything is in place for a favourable decision to be made.

“This incredible, once in a lifetime project will secure the long-term future of the club and deliver multiple benefits to local communities.

“The fact the application has received more than 2,400 comments in our favour is testament to the overwhelming support for this project.”

A planning application for the proposed new stadium at The Triangle was originally submitted to Cherwell at the end of February 2024, while in May, a legally binding lease option with Oxfordshire County Council was signed.

United’s licence agreement at the Kassam Stadium runs out on June 30, 2026, and the club is therefore looking to build a new home at The Triangle.

The club says it is in advanced discussions regarding alternative short-term provisions for the period between the lease at the Kassam expiring in 2026 and the proposed stadium being ready.

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