Oxford United’s New Stadium Plans Recommended for Approval Ahead of Key Planning Vote

Oxford United’s proposed 16,000-seater stadium at the Triangle site near Kidlington has been recommended for approval by Cherwell District Council’s planning officers — a significant milestone in the club’s long-running bid for a permanent home.

The planning committee is set to vote on the recommendation on Wednesday, 14 August, with council officers citing “very special circumstances” to justify building on green belt land, despite acknowledging it would cause “significant landscape and visual harm.”

If approved, the new development would include not only a state-of-the-art stadium but also a 180-bed hotel, conference centre, restaurant, and community plaza, transforming the five-hectare site into a multi-use sports and leisure hub. The location, known as the Triangle, sits just off the Kidlington roundabout and close to Oxford Parkway Station.

Oxford United’s Development Director Jonathon Clarke hailed the recommendation as a “significant and positive step,” saying the club now looks forward to the full council committee endorsing the proposal.

The club has been vocal about the urgency of securing a new home. With their current lease at the Kassam Stadium expiring in June 2026, Oxford have warned they could be left without a stadium by 2027 unless the Triangle project is approved. A one-year extension at the Kassam is conditional on gaining planning permission for the new ground.

The proposed stadium has sparked strong opinions across the community. The council received nearly 4,900 responses from the public, and local campaigners have raised concerns over the ecological value of the site, claiming the development would cause “irreversible damage” to the green belt. However, Natural England recently ruled that nearby woodland at Stratfield Brake is not classed as ancient, clearing a key obstacle that had delayed a decision in July.

Council planners sided with the club in concluding that the Triangle site is the only viable option for the stadium within or near Oxford.

Should the planning committee approve the proposal next week, the application will be referred to the Secretary of State, which is standard procedure for large-scale developments on protected land.

In a statement, Clarke said:

“This is a significant and positive step towards our goal of building a world-class venue that safeguards the club's future.
We now have confirmation of when the planning committee will meet and look forward to them hopefully endorsing the positive recommendation made by their professional officers.”