Club to pay £5.1m for stadium infrastructure plans

Esme KenneyLocal Democracy Reporting Service
News imageOUFC Computer mock-up of exterior of new stadium. It has a glass façade around it, and is surrounded by pathways and trees.OUFC
The club's vision for the new stadium, which will have a capacity of 16,000

At least £5.1m will be paid by Oxford United towards major projects as part of their plans to build a new stadium, documents show.

The 16,000-capacity stadium will be built at the Triangle near Kidlington, close to Oxford Parkway station, after Cherwell District Council and the government gave planning permission last year.

Plans for the club's Section 106 contributions – financial payments made by developers towards infrastructure projects – were published earlier this week.

The Championship side will contribute £1.05m for improvements at Oxford Parkway station, including two new access gates and ticket readers, match-day barriers and waiting shelters.

The club first unveiled its plans for its new stadium in 2023

The sum will be paid to Chiltern Railways to make the improvements.

About £930,000 will also be paid towards the reopening of the Cowley Branch Line, which would see two new stations open in Cowley and Littlemore.

About £720,000 will be paid to Oxfordshire County Council for bus improvements near the stadium, another £690,000 will go towards a "mobility hub" on the A44 and about £590,000 for pedestrian and cycling improvements.

Cherwell District Council will get £140,000 towards public art near the stadium.

The stadium will also include a 180-bed hotel, restaurant, conference centre and community plaza.

The football club's current lease at the Kassam Stadium will end in June 2028.

Oxford United has been contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service for further comment.