It seems likely that the stadium planning application will be determined by Cherwell District Council on 3rd July 2025. The application still has major weaknesses which we believe will prevent Cherwell's officers from recommending that it be approved.
In a recent helpful development the Woodland Trust has asked Cherwell to to take a precautionary approach so that no planning decision is made until Natural England has provided a judgement on whether the woodland adjacent to the site is Ancient Woodland. If it is then appropriate buffers will be required. These are not currently provided for.
Meanwhile BBOWT has suggested the creation of a nature reserve in perpetuity to contribute to maintaining the gap between Kidlington and Oxford that is threatened by the cumulative impact of this proposal in combination with other proposed developments close by. The nature reserve should be primarily for wildlife but with some public access. We wholly endorse this idea.