New Oxford United stadium site could be 'threat to the Green Belt'

Anna Colivicchiin Football

Environmental fears have been raised over revised plans to build a new stadium for Oxford United on the last 'green gap' between the city and Kidlington.

New Oxford United stadium site could be 'threat to the Green Belt'

Ed Nix

A planning pressure group said new plans to develop an 18,000-capacity football ground in the countryside damaged a "crucial green lung" and raised questions of what the community stood to gain.

Discussions have been taking place between Oxfordshire County Council and the football club since late last year aboutleasing council-owned land for a new stadium which would see it leave the Kassam Stadium on the opposite side of the city.

A site at Stratfield Brake, on the edge of Kidlington, had initially been proposed by the club, but the council this week conceded that there were "considerable challenges" with it.

Officers are now proposing a nearby alternative site, south of Kidlington roundabout, west of Banbury Road and east of Frieze Way, close to Oxford Parkway railway station.

Opponents, including countryside charity CPRE Oxfordshire, action group Friends of Stratfield Brake and Kidlington Parish Council, said the new site presents similar challenges to Stratfield Brake.

Also raising concerns is planning group POETS (PlanningOxfordshire's Environment andTransport Sustainably), which campaigns on issues affecting the county's future.

Member Noel Newson said: "We fully support the vision of a successful Oxford United football club that can be a good neighbour and an asset for the community.

"In our view, however, the suitability of the proposed new site raises all the same issues as the previously proposed location at Stratfield Brake.

"As well as multiple environmental challenges - including the need to retain the crucial green lung between Kidlington and Oxford - it would raise the same transport challenges that any large stadium with concentrated high volumes of activity would.

"More fundamentally there is the issue of the detail arrangements of how a public asset might be transferred to a private company. How do you ensure thatthecommunityretains futurecontrol of the land to ensure that it could notbe transferredto another company - possibly foreign-owned - without any compensation to the public purse?

"It is worth remembering that the Kassam site and much of the surrounding land, which had also been in the Green Belt, was effectively given away by the city council to provide a permanent home for Oxford United.

"The agreements have clearly failed to protect the future interests of Oxford United, and neither has the public had any meaningful return on the commercial development that has taken place around the site, nor would they from any future redevelopment of the existing stadium."

David Robey, who chairs Kidlington Parish Council, said the alternative site, known locally as 'the triangle', had an iconic significance because it would be the last piece of 'green gap' between his village and the city.

He said: "people feel very attached to it as it represents the identityof the village."

CPRE Oxfordshire's director Helen Marshall said that the new proposal represented a "marginal improvement" on the previous plans.

The county council owns the land at Stratfield Brake, but it is leased to Kidlington Parish Council and Gosford & Water Eaton Parish Council via a lease which has 75 years to run and no break clause.

County council leader Liz Leffman said: "We listened carefully to feedback from local residents and have taken account of the concerns they raised.

"The alternative site is separated from Kidlington and Gosford by two major roads, while the current leasing arrangement means its use would not impact community sports facilities or access to Stratfield Brake as a community amenity.

"The new site also has the advantage of being close to Oxford Parkway railway station and the Park & Ride, which would enable greater walking, cycling, bus and rail use among fans.

"We are, however, very mindful that like Stratfield Brake the site is in the Green Belt.

"If the cabinet decides to enter formal negotiations with OUFC, any final proposal by the club would then need to be put through the planning process at Cherwell District Council, which provides further opportunities for the public to provide their views before elected members take a decision."

Kidlington Cricket Club, Gosford All Blacks RFC and Kidlington Youth FC all currently use Stratfield Brake.

Oxford United had committed to replacing facilities with those of atleast a comparable standard should they relocate.

The youth football club said it supports the proposals for the alternative site atthe triangle.

A spokesperson for Kidlington Youth FC said: "We are supportive on the move to the triangle as it will lessen the concerns of locals about losing the community sporting area of Stratfield Brake.

"There will be benefits for OUFC which include not having to move the cricket, rugby and football before starting the building of the stadium and being closer to Oxford Parkway station.

"It would also allow OUFC to deliver on their promise to provide 'enhanced and sustainable sporting facilities to local clubs' sooner and more cost effectively.

"This could include improved grass pitchdrainage,additional carparking provision, a separate pavilion for the football club and the building of two new 4G flood lit pitches for ouruse.

"All are key to support the future growth of our youth football club as the surrounding population plans to near double over the next 10 to 15 years."

The decision about whether or not to enter into formal negotiations with OUFC about the lease of land will be taken in public at a cabinet meeting on January 24.

The new land would also be close to the Water Eaton site, formerly known as PR6a, where developer Bellway is planning to build up to 800 new homes


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