Oxford United F.C. will contribute at least £5.1 million towards transport and infrastructure projects as part of plans to build a new 16,000-capacity stadium at The Triangle site near Kidlington, according to our Local Democracy Reporter Esme Kenney.
The development was approved by Cherwell District Council and later rubber-stamped by the Secretary of State last year.
The club has now reached agreement with Cherwell District Council and Oxfordshire County Council over its Section 106 contributions — payments made by developers to support local infrastructure.
An “engrossment draft” has been submitted to the council’s planning portal, with the contract expected to be finalised at the end of the month.
Oxford Parkway railway station is set to receive £1.05 million in upgrades. The funding will provide two new access gates and ticket readers, matchday barriers, additional waiting shelters on platforms, and the conversion of the existing meeting room into a space for managing matchday operations.
The money will be paid to Chiltern Railways to deliver the improvements.
The county council will also receive £28,313 to replace ticket machines at the station and £20,224 to replace height barriers.
The Cowley Branch Line will benefit from £932,519. Long-proposed plans to reopen the line would see two new stations at Oxford Cowley and Oxford Littlemore, providing a twice-hourly service to the city centre and London Marylebone.
The club will also fund a range of traffic management measures. This includes £722,264 for bus improvements in the vicinity of the stadium, £690,764 for a new ‘mobility hub’ at the A44, £587,778 for pedestrian and cycling improvements at Oxford Parkway, and £260,550 towards speed cameras.
In addition, £153,240 will go towards two controlled parking zones near the site, £260,550 towards variable messaging signs for the highways network, and £184,120 for new or improved parking enforcement measures.
Cherwell District Council will receive £141,702 towards public art near the stadium.
Smaller allocations will also support woodland management monitoring, biodiversity net gain and travel monitoring across the district.
The wider stadium development will include a 180-bed hotel, restaurant, conference centre and community plaza.
While a construction start date has not yet been confirmed, the signing of the Section 106 agreement will allow the project to move into its next phase.
The club’s current lease at the Kassam Stadium is due to terminate in June 2028.
Oxford United was contacted for further comment.
