Decision imminent regarding new Oxford United stadium

After first unveiling plans for a new stadium two years ago, second-tier side Oxford United are now on tenterhooks as they await a key decision regarding the project. Most of the U's home games at their current Kassam Stadium home will be available via football streaming this season, but in the seasons to come, Gary Rowett's side may be played elsewhere.

The club's future now hangs in the balance as Cherwell District Council's planning committee is set to decide on the proposed new stadium. The decision will determine the fate of the club's new purpose-built 16,000-seater ground on land known as the Triangle, near Kidlington.

The football club has issued a stark warning - if the proposals are not approved by the local authority, it will be left without a home stadium after June 2027.

The proposed site for the new stadium is a five-hectare (12-acre) plot located south of Kidlington roundabout, west of Banbury Road, east of Frieze Way, and near Oxford Parkway Station.

Currently, Oxford United play at the Kassam Stadium, owned by the Firoka Group. The group has agreed that the U's can continue playing there for two more seasons.



However, there is an option to extend the deal for another year, conditional on planning permission for the club's proposed new stadium being granted. Both parties have stated that no further extensions or new lease agreements for the Kassam will be possible.

The council received approximately 4,900 responses from the public regarding the application and its planning report. The report contained details of objections from local campaigners. One of the main concerns was that the proposed stadium would be built near ancient woodland. However, Natural England concluded that this would not be the case.

The U's new complex is not just about football. It could include a 180-bed hotel, restaurant, conference centre, and community plaza, making it a multi-purpose facility.

The planned capacity for the stadium at the Triangle is 16,000, providing ample space for U's fans.

If the council backs the application, it will be referred to the Secretary of State, currently Wes Streeting, which is a standard procedure for such large-scale applications.

This decision will not only impact the future of Oxford United but also the local community and football fans across the region. The anticipation is high as everyone awaits the council's decision on the new stadium plans.