Legal challenge launched over consultation on proposed football club stadium site
An environmental campaign group has issued a letter before action to Oxfordshire County Council over its consultation on the potential transfer of land to Oxford United Football Club (OUFC) for a new stadium.
Oxford United is considering a move to publicly owned Green Belt land when its lease on the Kassam Stadium expires in 2026.
Friends of Stratfield Brake (FoSB), represented by Ricardo Gama at Leigh Day, argue that the council’s consultation on the transfer of land was unlawful as it “failed to provide sufficient information to the public regarding the proposal”.
The group revealed that the letter before action asks the council to “pause the current process and provide information which clearly explains to the public why the need has arisen for OUFC to have a new stadium, and what the Kassam Stadium will be used for if OUFC leave”.
In a statement regarding the legal position and licence agreement at the Kassam stadium, the football club said: “After 30 June 2026 Oxford United will have no legal right to use or occupy the Kassam Stadium, there is no right of renewal in the licence, there is no statutory security of tenure (these have been excluded following the correct statutory procedures) and therefore the club is looking for a new home ground.”
The proposed new stadium would be built on land known as the Triangle, near Oxford Parkway rail station and bounded by roads south of Kidlington roundabout.
FoSB said it was a “strategic green barrier” between Oxford and Kidlington.
The group claim that the council’s consultation, which closed on 23 July, “failed to provide information as to why the Triangle is the only possible alternative site if OUFC cannot remain at the Kassam Stadium”.
Victoria Campbell, a founder member of FoSB said: “We have asked Leigh Day to write to Oxfordshire County Council as a last resort. We did our utmost to persuade the council to reconsider the format of the consultation before it started. The survey should have been designed to collect in a secure manner the views of those groups who could be significantly impacted by proposal major infrastructure project on their doorstep rather than an online survey which is open to all.
“We have seen evidence that OUFC supporters conducted an organised campaign to publicise the survey to professional football clubs across the country to boost support for the proposals in a clear attempt to influence the outcome.”
An Oxfordshire County Council spokesperson said: “We can confirm that an initial judicial review pre-action letter has been received from solicitors representing Friends of Stratfield Brake with regards to Oxfordshire County Council’s public engagement exercise on the potential use of council-owned land for a new stadium.
“Oxfordshire County Council will be responding to the letter in due course and in the time frame agreed with the representative’s solicitors. It would not be appropriate to provide further legal comment on this matter at this present time.”
Lottie Winson
