Oxford United and county council 'heads of terms' agreed

Oxford United Football Club revealed images of the proposed complex in October

The first steps in an agreement that will see a council lease land to a football club for a new stadium have been agreed.

Oxford United hopes to build a 16,000-capacity stadium near Kidlington.

Oxfordshire County Council approved the lease in principle in September, but further negotiations have led to "heads of terms" being agreed.

But the authority said while it was an "important milestone" it was "only one step in a wider process".

The five-hectare (12-acre) site is located south of Kidlington roundabout, west of Banbury Road, east of Frieze Way and opposite Oxford Parkway Station.

Oxfordshire County Council owns the land earmarked for the new stadium

In a statement the council said: "A number of other key legal and partnership agreements will follow to meet the council's strategic objectives and also to ensure that the club fulfils its commitments to the local community and sports groups.

"This agreement represents positive progress in helping the club secure a long-term home in the county."

The council said the lease of land came "with a number of conditions that the club must meet".

These included it securing planning permission from Cherwell District Council and producing a net zero carbon plan.

It also expects a "detailed set of proposals" for how Oxford United will address the council's "strategic priorities", such as "improving public transport, sustainable transport, and infrastructure connectivity".

It added: "The county council is a statutory consultee in this planning application in its role as local highways authority and officers will continue to scrutinise the club's plans in detail."

The planned capacity for the stadium on the Triangle is 16,000

An Oxford United spokesperson said: "Our focus is on securing the long-term future of Oxford United and delivering on our commitments to the Oxfordshire community.

"The heads of terms being agreed is another step towards that ambition.

"We're delighted Oxfordshire County Council has also given an undertaking to sign the remaining key legal and partnership agreements this week.

"This shows the club has met the council's criteria and addressed their strategic priorities."

The club says it has to leave its current home at the Kassam Stadium when its lease expires in 2026.

It released computer generated pictures of the proposed complex in October.

It would include a 180-bed hotel, conference and event space, and a health and wellbeing centre.

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