Have your say on Oxford United’s stadium proposals

People are being invited to give their views on proposals by Oxford United Football Club (OUFC) to build a new stadium on council-owned land known as ‘the Triangle’, which is located east of Frieze Way and south of the Kidlington roundabout.

Oxfordshire County Council is inviting feedback on the club’s response to the strategic priorities set out by the council for the use of the land. For OUFC to receive agreement from the council to lease or buy the site, the club’s proposals must address seven key strategic priorities and bring benefit to communities in Oxfordshire.

An online survey is now live for people to share their views. The survey, which runs until 23 July, can be accessed at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/thetriangle.

Over the coming weeks, there will also be a small number of staffed, drop-in public exhibitions that are open to everyone:

• Saturday 24 June, 10am - 4pm: Exeter Hall, Oxford Road, Kidlington
• Wednesday 28 June, 1.30pm - 7.30pm: Exeter Hall, Oxford Road, Kidlington
• Friday 7 July, 3.30pm - 7pm: Cutteslowe Community Centre, Wren Road, Oxford
• Saturday 8 July, 10am - 4pm: County Library, Westgate, Oxford

Councillor Glynis Phillips, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, said: “This is the second stage of a thorough engagement exercise with stakeholders and the public.

“In April and May, we held meetings with a range of stakeholders exploring early views about the use of the land at the Triangle and the potential impact of any new stadium. We’d like to thank all those stakeholders who took part in these discussions.

“OUFC has shared with the county council the information they believe addresses the strategic priorities set out for the use of this land, and this has been published. We’d now like to encourage everyone to share their views with us before we take a decision about the use of the land in September.”

A decision about whether OUFC can acquire the land at the Triangle will be taken in public by the council’s cabinet at its meeting on 19 September.

The lease or sale of the land would only go ahead if the club received planning permission for the proposed stadium from Cherwell District Council as the local planning authority. This would be a full planning process involving public consultation.

Notes to editors

The seven strategic priorities set out by the council for the use of the Triangle are:

1. maintaining a green barrier between Oxford and Kidlington and protecting and enhancing the surrounding environment including biodiversity, connecting habitats, and supporting nature recovery
2. improving public access to high quality nature and green spaces
3. enhancing inclusive facilities for local sports groups and ongoing financial support
4. significantly improving the infrastructure connectivity in this location, improving public transport to reduce the need for car travel as far as possible, and to improve sustainable transport through increased walking, cycling and rail use
5. developing local employment opportunities in Oxfordshire
6. increasing education and innovation through the provision of an accessible sports centre of excellence and facilities linked to elite sport, community sport, health and wellbeing
7. supporting the council’s net zero carbon emissions pledge through highly sustainable development.