Two Oxfordshire MPs have called for Oxford United’s new stadium project to move forward without further delay, warning that time is running out for the club to secure its long-term future.
The U’s plan to relocate from Kassam Stadium to a new 16,000-seater ground at The Triangle site, near Kidlington Roundabout. Cherwell District Council approved the plans in August after a series of delays.
However, due to the scale of the project, the application must now be referred to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, who will decide whether to call it in.
Anneliese Dodds, Labour MP for Oxford East, and Sean Woodcock, Labour MP for Banbury, have written to the newly appointed secretary of state, Steve Reed MP, urging him to approve the plans quickly.
In their letter, the MPs said:
“Oxford United is a critical source of pride for Oxford and Oxfordshire, as well as contributing massively to our local economy.
“If the plans are not approved speedily by the Secretary of State, all of this is at risk, given the impending danger of the end of the current lease, never mind its unsuitability.
“It has now been over three weeks since the application was approved by Cherwell District Council, and Oxford United cannot afford further delays.”
Read more: Oxford City Council welcomes approval of Oxford United’s new stadium plans
Oxford United’s future is closely tied to the approval process. The owners of Kassam Stadium, where the club currently play, have agreed to extend the lease until June 2028 only if planning permission for the new stadium has been granted.
Mr Reed, who became secretary of state last week following Angela Rayner’s resignation, will now consider whether the application should proceed or undergo further review.
The club’s supporters and local leaders argue that the new stadium is vital not only for the team’s future but also for Oxfordshire’s economy, culture, and sense of identity.
