Historic Milestone: UK Approves Its First All-Electric Football Stadium

Image Credit: OUFC

Cherwell District Council's planning committee approved the purpose-built ground on land known as the Triangle, near Kidlington, following a four-hour meeting.

Fans gathered in their football shirts on Thursday evening, cheering and shouting "we got it" as the votes were announced.

Ultimately, 14 councillors supported the proposal, three abstained, and one voted against it. The seven-hectare site will be situated south of the 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 conflicts with the district council's development plan and is located within the green belt.

Councillors discussing the plans raised questions about transport, finances, and the environmental impact of the new stadium. Among those who spoke was club steward Roland Clements, known as Roly, who expressed concern about the club’s future if the stadium did not go ahead. Currently, Oxford United plays at the Kassam Stadium, and its owner, Firoka Group, has agreed the team can stay there for two more seasons.

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.

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."

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 the news 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."

There is an option to extend the agreement for another year, contingent on planning permission for the new stadium being granted.

The council received around 4,900 responses from the public about the application, and the planning report detailed objections from local campaigners.

The new stadium complex is expected to feature a 180-bed hotel, a restaurant, a conference centre, and a community plaza.

There were initial worries that the stadium would be built near ancient woodland, but Natural England concluded that the site would not affect these areas.