Our opposition to the stadium continues as we move to the next stage of the planning process. Below we provide answers to some key questions on next steps.
When will Cherwell issue the formal decision notice?
Following approval of the planning application Cherwell will issue the formal decision notice once:
1. The Secretary of State has decided whether or not he will ‘call-in’ the application, and
2. The Section 106 conditions are agreed (it is normal for this to take several weeks post planning approval).
What timescale are we looking at?
This is uncertain. The target decision date on the planning portal has been extended to 30 November 2025. However, the formal decision could be issued before or after this date.
What will FoSB do next?
FoSB’s next steps will depend on whether the application is ‘called-in’ by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, Steve Reed. Generally applications are only called-in if they conflict with national policies or have significant effects beyond their locality. For this reason call-ins are rare.
What happens if the application is called-in?
If the application is called-in, a Planning Inspector would be appointed to hold an inquiry and FoSB would need to participate. The Inspector would then draft a report with a recommendation on whether planning permission should be granted or refused. The Secretary of State would make the decision - but he is not obliged to follow the Inspector’s recommendation!
Would the Secretary of State’s decision be final?
With appropriate grounds the Secretary of State’s decision can be challenged in the courts.
What happens if the application is not called-in?
If there is no call-in, once the Section 106 conditions are agreed, Cherwell will issue the formal decision notice and any legal challenge on Cherwell would need to be filed within six weeks. We believe it is vital that we get this flawed decision before a judge to examine its legality.
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