Oxford United, a football club with a rich history dating back 131 years, has submitted an application to build a new stadium at the Triangle site, near Kidlington. The project also includes restaurants, a 180-room hotel, and wellness gardens. In addition, the stadium will be the first all-electric venue in the UK.

Triangle location

In April 2024, Oxfordshire County Council announced that it had reached an agreement with Oxford United Football Club (OUFC) to lease land for Oxford United new stadium. The site, known as The Triangle, is located near Kidlington and is approximately five hectares in size.

The main terms of the deal include the requirement for a CO2-neutral plan and for the land to be used exclusively for sport and recreation. In addition, the club will have to submit detailed plans for public transport, sustainable transport and infrastructure connectivity.

However, before construction can start, OUFC must obtain a planning permission from Cherwell District Council. The decision on whether to grant planning permission for the site was due in September 2024, after the council had considered the results of the consultation. However, it is now known that this decision has been delayed until early 2025.

© AFL Architects / Oxford United

Reviewing application again in 2025

Following a number of discussions with Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council, it has been decided that the application will be considered in early 2025. In the meantime, the club has secured a ground lease and a community co-operation agreement, which is an important step towards making the project a reality.

Oxford United has also outlined plans for the facilities that will be built around the new stadium. In addition to the arena, the project includes a 180-room hotel, restaurant, conference centre, health and leisure space, gym and community square.

The club's aim is to create a modern, eco-friendly stadium that will become an important landmark in the community and bring significant economic and social benefits to the region. The stadium is to offer safe standing areas, a sensory room, 130 wheelchair spaces and regeneration gardens. In addition, the facility is set to become the first in the UK to be fully electric.

© AFL Architects / Oxford United

The club target to make the new stadium a hub for sport, entertainment, business, education and tourism, helping to create jobs, increase tourism, improve transport infrastructure and support local sports groups and schools.

Oxford United's director of development, Jonathan Clarke, stressed that the club is committed to the planning process and is supporting the planning department in its review. He also expressed a willingness to meet any additional information requirements and submit further details in due course.

The club added that it is looking for a short-term solution for the period between the end of Kassam Stadium's lease and the opening of the new facility at Kidlington. However, no further details are available at this time.