Oxford United Football Club has today published further details of the plans for their potential new home in Kidlington, in the spare land near Oxford Parkway Railway Station. The club has published seven new images of the proposal and a virtual fly through, and are welcoming local residents and interested parties to an exhibition Tuesday 10th to Saturday 21st of October, 0900-2000 at Holiday Inn Oxford, Peartree Roundabout, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 8JD.
A copy of the exhibition boards and an option to complete the feedback form electronically will also be available on the stadium website at www.oufcstadium.co.uk.
Where is the agreed new stadium location?
The land is located east of Frieze Way and south of Kidlington roundabout, north of Oxford. Known as ‘the Triangle’, it is approximately 5 hectares in size and is situated in the green belt.
The Triangle is close to Oxford Parkway railway station and the park and ride at Water Eaton. And is close to the previously proposed Stratfield Brake area. It’s an ideal location for residents of Oxfordshire and beyond, with extra trains to be provided on match days for fans of the Yellows to easily access the ground. Additional park and ride facilities are also expected.
For those doubting any potential success, you only have to look at the success of Brighton and Hove Albion, with the 2011 stadium at Falmer twice the capacity and relies on trains, park and ride and sustainable travel. The South Coast side were in League One when the stadium opened, although the first league game was at Championship level. U’s fans can dream of similar success with the current place in the automatic promotion places.
The new location was agreed in principle at the council meeting 19th September subject to condition, which includes meeting net zero targets and improving infrastructure connectivity. Details can be found on Oxfordshire County Council’s website here: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/council/about-your-council/oxford-united-stadium. These new plans from Oxford United Football Club detail exactly how they plan to meet those conditions, and enable any local residents the opportunity to raise direct questions and feedback. It is hoped this will finally see the end to the search for a new stadium.
What is planned?
Oxford United has a vision to create a sustainable sports, entertainment and lifestyle landmark in Oxfordshire which is locally loved and internationally recognised. After an extensive site search, the Triangle in Kidlington has been identified as the only viable and potentially available site to create a best-in-class facility as the new home of Oxford United Football Club.
It’s the right choice; Kidlington is well-connected to the rest of Oxfordshire and beyond, with good transport links, including a railway station and several bus services.
The club’s new home will set the benchmark for community benefit, commercial innovation, and environmental performance, and put the visitor experience at its heart. This will take Oxford United Football Club into the 21st century and enable the continued success of both the men’s and women’s teams, as well as its vitally important community outreach and charitable work.
The club’s current agreement to play at the Kassam Stadium comes to an end in 2026 and so they have to find a new home. This has led to plans for a 16,000-capacity stadium and complex within a single building. This will include a 180-bed hotel, restaurant, conference centre, health & wellbeing space and a community plaza.
The northern part of the building, next to the new plaza, will have a range of retail, restaurant and community spaces, including the Club Shop, Sports Bar / Café and Restaurant.
The building will be surrounded and complemented by new landscaping and community-focused open public green spaces which will enhance the biodiversity of the site by more than 10%.
The stadium will be better connected to public transport and create new connections for the wider community, with a new east to west pedestrian and cycle route, improved footway and cycleway links to Oxford Parkway station and the Water Eaton Park and Ride site as well as enhanced pedestrian facilities along Oxford Road.
The stadium has been designed for all, reducing barriers to participation and involvement. The stadium designs feature sensory rooms and a dedicated accessible concourse with elevated views of the field of play, demonstrating the club’s commitment in ensuring everyone is able to comfortably visit Oxford’s new home for football.
Oxford United Football Club is committed to women’s league and cup fixtures being played at the stadium and wants everyone to have equal access to the new facilities.
Oxford United Football Club Chief Executive Tim Williams said:
“With our right to use the Kassam Stadium coming to an end in 2026 and no option to renew the lease, we must find a new home. The club is committed to developing a proposal which is highly sustainable and community focused whilst providing a state-of-the-art destination for all. The further detail we have released today shows how seriously we take these principles, and I am delighted to share the first glimpse of our stadium with the whole of Oxfordshire.
I hope everyone from Kidlington, the surrounding areas and across the county will come to the exhibition and take a look at the plans.
We want to hear all your feedback.”
Where is Kidlington?
Kidlington is a village and civil parish located in Oxfordshire, England. It is situated about 5 miles northwest of the city of Oxford. The village dates back to at least the 11th century and is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, with several historic buildings and landmarks, including St. Mary’s Church, which dates back to the 12th century.
