Agenda, decisions and minutes

5.    Land To The East Of Stratfield Brake And West Of Oxford Parkway Railway Station, Oxford Road, Kidlington.

Councillor Chris Pruden, Other Registerable Interest, as a member of Bicester Town Council, and advised that he had not been present, having submitted apologies, at the Bicester Town Council Full Council meeting on 29 June 2025 at which the meeting agreed a motion regarding Oxford United FC.

Councillor Fiona Mawson, Other Registerable Interest, as a member of Kidlington Parish Council which had been consulted on the application.

Councillor Les Sibley, Other Registerable Interest, as a member of Bicester Town Council, and advised that he had been present at the Bicester Town Council Full Council meeting on 29 June 2025 but had declared an interest as a member of CDC Planning Committee and had left the meeting, and therefore not voted, for the entirety of the motion regarding Oxford United FC.

Councillor Lesley McLean, Other Registerable Interest, as a member of Kidlington Parish Council and Yarnton Parish Council which had been consulted on the application.

Councillor Lesley McLean, Declaration, for complete transparency, over the last few years she had met with OCC, OUFC and other groups and had also attended the Cherwell Business Awards where OUFC was present but confirmed that she came to the Committee meeting today with an open mind, having reviewed the documents before he and would listen to the discussion in the room prior to making any decision.

The Chair to report on any requests to address the meeting.

Requests to address the meeting (including the application, whether you will speak in support of or objection to the application, your contact details) should be submitted to democracy@cherwell-dc.gov.uk 

The deadline for requests to address this meeting is noon on Wednesday 13 August.

Addresses can be made virtually or in person. Full details of public participation at Planning Committee meetings is available in the Constitution, Planning Committee Procedure Rules.

The Chair advised that requests to address the meeting would be dealt with at the relevant time.

To receive communications from the Chair.

The Chair made the following announcements:

(1)        The Chair briefly explained the meeting procedures for the Planning Committee.

(2)        Members were reminded that the application should be considered with an open mind, and decisions should be based on the information presented having regard to both national and local policy. Members should also keep in mind the Members’ Code of Conduct and Planning Members’ code of conduct.

(3)        Members were reminded to remain in their seats for the presentation and discussion. Should they need to leave the room during consideration of the item, they should refrain from speaking or voting on the item.

(4)        As far as practicable, a comfort break would be taken after around two hours

Approved in line with officer recommendation, subject to conditions (and any amendments as deemed necessary), referral to secretary of state as the application is a departure from the development plan and the completion of a planning obligation under section 106 of the town and country planning act 1990, to Secure the mitigation set out in appendix 2 (and any amendments to those obligations as deemed Necessary), details to be set out in the minutes.

The Committee considered application 24/00539/F for the erection of a stadium (Use Class F2) with flexible commercial and community facilities and uses including for conferences, exhibitions, education, and other events, club shop, public restaurant, bar, health and wellbeing facility/clinic, and gym (Use Class E/Sui Generis), hotel (Use Class C1), external concourse/fan-zone, car and cycle parking, access and highway works, utilities, public realm, landscaping and all associated and ancillary works and structures at Land To The East Of Stratfield Brake And West Of Oxford Parkway Railway Station Oxford Road Kidlington for Oxford United Football Club Limited.

Councillor Linda Ward addressed the Committee as Local Ward Member.

Councillor Ian Middleton addressed the Committee as Local Ward Member.

Melanie Moorhouse on behalf of Kidlington Parish Council and Adrian Sutton, on behalf of Friends of Stratfield Brake, addressed the Committee in objection to the application.   

Tim Williams, Chief Executive of Oxford United Football Club and Roland Francis Clements on behalf of the applicant, addressed the Committee in support of the application.

In accordance with the Planning Committee procedures, questions of clarification were asked by Committee members which were duly responded to by officers. The application was subsequently debated.

In the course of the debate and in response to matters raised, officers undertook to review if various conditions (notably conditions 6, 13 and 33) could be pre-commencement rather than pre-occupation or development commencing above slab level; place an informative on Martyn’s Law and the legislative requirements in that regard; the possibility of parking permits being covered by the S106; discussion with the applicant and highways regarding the route for emergency vehicles noting the proposed road closures; review of the Training and Employment Management Plan requirements.

It was proposed by Councillor Thornhill and seconded by Councillor Hingley that, in line with the officer recommendation, that application 24/00539/F be approved

It was subsequently proposed by Councillor Creed and seconded by Councillor Rogers that a recorded vote be taken. 

Having been proposed and seconded, a recorded vote was duly taken and Members voted as follows: 

Cllr Rebecca Biegel                     For

Cllr Chris Brant                            For

Cllr John Broad                           Against

Cllr Phil Chapman                       For

Cllr Becky Clarke MBE                For

Cllr Dr Isabel Creed                     For

Cllr Ian Harwood                         For

Cllr David Hingley                        For 

Cllr Fiona Mawson                       Abstain

Cllr Lesley McLean                      Abstain

Cllr Dr Chukwudi Okeke               For

Cllr Robert Parkinson                  For

Cllr Chris Pruden                         For

Cllr David Rogers                        For

Cllr Les Sibley                             For

Cllr Dr Kerrie Thornhill                 For

Cllr Dorothy Walker                     Abstain

Cllr Barry Wood                           For

The vote was won, and the motion was carried. 

In reaching its decision the Committee considered the officer’s report and presentation, written updates and the addresses of the public speakers.

Resolved   

That, in line with the officer’s recommendation, authority be delegated to the Assistant Director for Planning and Development to grant permission for application 24/00539/F subject to - 

                 i.          Referral to Secretary of State as the application is a departure from the development plan 

                ii.          The conditions set out below (and any amendments to those conditions as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.