Oxford greyhound stadium: City council to look at compulsory purchase order

The stadium has been listed as a conservation area by Oxford City Council

Oxford Stadium could be bought by the city council using a compulsory purchase order (CPO), its leader said.

Owners the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) were refused permission to build 220 homes on the site in 2014.

At a meeting of campaigners trying to save the stadium from development, council leader Bob Price said the authority was considering using a CPO.

He added: "I think we're all anxious to get the stadium back into greyhound and speedway use."

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The Blackbird Leys stadium has not been used for greyhound racing since it was closed in 2012.

'Clearly a possibility'

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said it was "very heartening" to see the level of support at the meeting on Thursday.

Mr Price said: "We've got to be patient, but I think we are going to look again at the CPO potentially, because that is something that is clearly a possibility.

"We've had negative views so far from the lawyers, but we're going to look at it again."

Last year a High Court judge approved the council's move to list it as a conservation area.

A CPO allows public bodies who need land or property to buy it without the owner's consent.

The BBC has contacted GRA for comment.