An agreement has been reached on heads of terms for Oxfordshire County Council to lease land it owns near Kidlington for Oxford United to develop a new football stadium.
The council’s cabinet agreed in principle for land known as the “triangle” to be leased at its meeting in September 2023.
Detailed negotiations have now led to heads of terms being agreed. A number of other key legal and partnership agreements will follow to meet the council's strategic objectives and also to ensure that the club fulfils its commitments to the local community and sports groups
This agreement represents positive progress in helping the club secure a long-term home in the county. However, while this is an important milestone, it is only one step in a wider process.
In addition to agreeing heads of terms, the lease of land comes with a number of conditions that the club must meet. These were agreed by the council’s cabinet in September 2023.
These include the club securing planning permission from Cherwell District Council, the production of a net zero carbon plan and a detailed set of proposals that show how the club will meet its commitments around addressing the council’s strategic priorities – including improving public transport, sustainable transport and infrastructure connectivity.
The county council is a statutory consultee in this planning application in its role as local highways authority and officers will continue to scrutinise the club’s plans in detail.
As part of the club’s pledge to deliver a state-of-the-art stadium it has outlined further details behind the proposed low-impact development. The club would use a low-carbon energy supply to create an ‘all electric’ stadium, with power also generated by solar panels.
Jon Clarke, Development Director at Oxford United, has said: “The standout element of the stadium is it will be the most sustainable mid-sized sports venue in the country. We want to make the most of the opportunity to create something special – it would be one of the greenest football stadiums to be built.”
