OXFORD United’s search for a new stadium has taken one of its biggest step forwards to date after council officers recommended selling land to the club.
The U’s are looking to build a new ground at The Triangle, south of Kidlington Roundabout, with the club’s licence agreement at the Kassam Stadium running out in 2026.
A new report reveals that Oxfordshire County Council officers have advised the local authority’s cabinet to approve using council-owned land for a new stadium.
The officer recommendation comes with a condition that United must produce a net zero plan that comes with ‘clear timescales and outcomes from design, construction and full operation of the stadium’.
The advice to approve also includes the agreement that the use of the land is for football/ community sports and leisure/ sports stadia ‘in perpetuity’, with limited ancillary commercial use.
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Should the cabinet approve the sale of the land to the U’s at its meeting on September 19, the club still requires planning approval from Cherwell District Council as the local planning authority.
County council chief executive Martin Reeves said: “Officers have made a recommendation for approval having looked carefully at a range of different information, including the views provided to us by those who took the time and care to respond.
“There are conditions attached to those recommendations including a net zero requirement.
“It is now for cabinet members to debate this in public on September 19 and come to a final decision.
“They will no doubt look carefully at the results of engagement with the public and stakeholders during both 2022 and 2023.
“This has been extensive and thorough and the county council would once again like to sincerely thank everyone who has taken part for sharing their views.
“It should be stressed that, in the event that cabinet ultimately decides to approve the use of the land for the football club to build a new stadium, Oxford United would still need to seek planning approval from Cherwell District Council as the local planning authority.”
Last week, a county council report revealed that the majority of people who completed a survey on the stadium plans believe information provided by the U’s addresses environmental challenges.
READ AGAIN: Majority say Oxford United stadium plans address environmental challenges
The document published the results of a second phase of engagement undertaken by the council, as the local authority sought views on whether United’s proposals address seven strategic priorities – including maintaining a green barrier between Oxford and Kidlington, significantly improving the infrastructure connectivity and developing local employment opportunities in Oxfordshire.
A six-week long engagement exercise saw 5,441 people and organisations respond to a survey between June 9 and July 23, while five public exhibitions were held between June 24 and July 20. Those events saw 293 attendees.
That report will be mulled over by a meeting of the county council’s place overview and scrutiny committee tomorrow.
About the author
To sign up to Liam’s latest Oxford United newsletter for free, click here: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/newsletters/
Formerly the politics reporter for the Oxford Mail, Liam now covers all things Oxford United.
Liam attends the U’s home and away, as well as covering other big sports stories across the county.
His Oxford United newsletter is released every Saturday morning at 6am.
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