Securing OUFC’s future

Oxford United Football Club has submitted a full planning application to Cherwell District Council to build a new, modern, eco-friendly 16,000 capacity stadium on an area of land known as The Triangle, near Kidlington, as part of a mixed-use development. fabrik has worked with the Club and multi-disciplinary design team to provide landscape planning, landscape design and arboricultural services for the planning application.

Our landscape planning and arboriculture teams helped shape the masterplan layout to ensure key landscape and visual constraints and opportunities were identified at the earliest opportunity, whilst providing Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, verified photomontages (courtesy of Munro Studios) and Arboricultural Impact Assessments, as part of the technical information submitted with the planning application.

We collaborated with the wider project team to craft a stadium masterplan prioritising visitor experience, inclusivity, and sustainability to meet the OUFC’s vision. The design features flexible, multi-functional spaces, including areas for pre and post-game gatherings, community use, street furniture, pop-up vendors, charity events and outdoor activities. The plan integrates Oxford United’s history, incorporating a modern take on the Manor Ground arch. It enhances biodiversity with 143 new trees, diverse species, scrub planting and native hedgerow planting, contributing to on-site Biodiversity Net Gain and sustainability goals alongside what would be the UK’s first all-electric stadium.

“Today is a significant milestone in our stadium development plans and for the future sustainability of the Club. We have taken the opportunity to create something truly incredible that not only places the visitor experience at its heart but is sustainable and will deliver huge benefits to our community and economy. Submitting our full planning application further demonstrates the club’s commitment to delivering a new state-of-the-art landmark that will benefit the entire community. Our thanks go to our whole stadium project team who have worked tirelessly to submit this extensive planning application. We received a high volume of feedback during the public consultation and revised our plans based on some observations. This process helped ensure we got our application correct and, in light of the extensive response received, took slightly longer than anticipated. We look forward to continuing to share details of the plans and working closely with key stakeholders including Cherwell District Council and Oxfordshire County Council to bring our vision to reality.”

Jon Clarke
Development Director at Oxford United

This project presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to provide a new home for sport, entertainment, business, community, education and tourism which the whole county can be proud of. The design includes a 180-bed hotel, conference and event space, along with a health and wellbeing centre, to help deliver significant economic and social benefits to Oxfordshire.

Submitting a full planning application comes after Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet gave principle consent to lease the triangle site to the club. Oxford United’s lease at the Kassam Stadium comes to an end in 2026.

Main image credit: AFL Architects

Popular search /

Securing OUFC’s future

Appeal Success