How to object to the OUFC Planning Application: May 2025

The deadline for comments is 30th May 2025 but Cherwell may accept comments submitted by email after that date.

It doesn’t matter if you have commented before, you can do so as often as you like!

WE RECOMMEND that you email your comments to: planning@cherwell-dc.gov.uk making sure that you include the reference (24/00539/F), your name, address and a statement that you OBJECT along with the reasons why.

Before the 30th May responses can alternatively be submitted by going to the application on the Planning Portal clicking on the ‘Comment on this application’ button. You can either type comments directly into this form, or save your comments as a PDF to attach.  To avoid losing partly completed comments you may want to draft them on a Word document and then copy to the form.

If you want help, please email stratfieldbrakefriends@gmail.com

Please write a comment, in your own words (this is very important).

The key points are:

• There is still no third party documentary evidence that OUFC can’t remain at the Kassam Stadium.
• • OUFC has signed yet another lease.
  • Firoz Kassam has not said he will eject the club if planning fails.
• Road closure times of 30 minutes are completely unrealistic.
• The Oxford Road has been nominated by OUFC as the emergency evacuation point but isn’t suitable:
• • It could be congested and would take too long to clear if there was an emergency.
  • If it is determined that it needs to be kept clear this could lead to road closures throughout matches, so 3 hours minimum.
• Public safety is a material planning consideration which must be considered now, not when the stadium becomes operational.
• The Triangle is not ‘grey belt’ because it contributes strongly to the purposes of the Green Belt as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.
• Claims, as a key part of ‘Very Special Circumstances’ for building on the Green Belt, that the new stadium will make OUFC financially sustainable, must be evidenced.

These will be more powerful if you are able to set these in the context of material planning issues as listed at end).

• There is still no third party documentary evidence that OUFC can’t remain at the Kassam Stadium:
• • OUFC has signed yet another lease.
  • Firoz Kassam has not said he will eject the club if planning fails.
  • OUFC has already misled councils and the public by saying it couldn’t renew its lease past 2026.
• Road closure times of 30 minutes are completely unrealistic
• • This is evidenced in a report for CPRE by Mayer Brown which states:
  • “The closure of Oxford Road before a match for 30 mins is unlikely to capture the majority of supporters arriving on foot and it is considered that the pre-match assessment should be extended to include earlier periods. This should include the highway impact assessment.”
  • This has not been done.
• The closure set up time makes no allowance for setting up barriers and cones along the Oxford Road – this will inevitably extend the closure times.
• The impact of longer road closures needs to be properly traffic modelled
• The Oxford Road isn’t a suitable muster point for emergency evacuations:
• • It could be congested and would take too long to clear if there was an emergency, and
  • It is too close to the stadium to be safe as a muster point.
  • If it is determined that it needs to be kept clear this could lead to road closures throughout matches. so 3 hours minimum.
• Fans can’t be segregated without closing the Oxford Road.
• The impact of longer road closures needs to be properly traffic modelled.
• Public safety is a material planning consideration which OUFC must address as part of the planning application, not once the stadium is operational.
• The Match Day Travel Plan will only operate when ticket sales are ‘high’ (as decided by OUFC). The impact on traffic and local parking etc, has not been considered for Match Days which are just below ‘high’.
• Claims, as a key part of ‘Very Special Circumstances’ for building on the Green Belt, that the new stadium will make OUFC financially sustainable must be evidenced. 
• The Triangle is not ‘grey belt’ because it contributes strongly to Green Belt purposes as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework paragraph 143 (a) and (b).
• The buffer for the adjacent woodland is insufficient because Natural England is currently reviewing this as potentially ancient woodland (which is considered to be an irreplaceable habitat and qualifies for protection from development).
• There are inadequate measures for preventing parking at Oxford Parkway Station.
• CPRE’s Mayer Brown report states that there is likely to be a significant shortfall in parking on Match Days.
• CPZ (controlled parking zone) plans are cursory and have been neglected.
• OUFC has admitted that 10% increase in biodiversity can’t be achieved on-site even though it is claiming that the pitch (which will include artificial fibres) is ‘modified grassland’ and the willow coppice is an ‘arable crop’.

Material planning issues

These are relevant issues that must be considered by a local planning authority, in this case Cherwell District Council, when making a decision on a planning application. They include:

• Compliance with the National Planning Policy Framework (e.g. on Green Belt)
• Public safety
• Traffic and access, including congestion, adequacy of parking and accessibility.
• The design and appearance including visual impact, height and scale, and whether it respects local character.
• Impact on the environment including biodiversity, flood risk and drainage. 

We will add links to FoSB's full responses on these issues when they are available.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and respond to this consultation.