Oxford United must commit to ensuring a key road remains open if they get planning permission to build their new stadium, the county council has said.

The club announced last week it submitted its planning application to Cherwell District Council for the construction of a 16,000-capacity ground at The Triangle near the Kidlington Roundabout.

However, the existing plans do not have a pedestrian bridge over Oxford Road, a key route that runs from Kidlington to North Oxford and past Oxford Parkway station.

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Oxford Mail: The Triangle’ was agreed to be leased by Oxfordshire County Council to Oxford United for its new

Oxford Road could be closed for an hour before a match and up to two hours afterwards, the club's plans suggest.

An Oxfordshire County Council spokesman said: “We welcome the progress being made by Oxford United Football Club in designing a new stadium.

“The lease of the land by the county council to the club remains dependent on the club meeting the conditions laid out by the cabinet in October 2023.

“Among other things, this requires the club to commit to access arrangements that maintain traffic movement on Oxford Road, which may require a footbridge.

“The club must also provide both maintenance and financial support for the Stratfield Brake sports pitches, including football, cricket, rugby and running and provide a useable and publicly accessible green space to the north of the site to maintain the green gap between Kidlington and Oxford.

“These conditions are separate to the requirement for the club to get planning permission for any structures it wants to build on county council owned land.

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Oxford Mail: Oxford United have published new images of what the club’s proposed stadium at The Triangle could

“The county council will respond to the planning application in its role as a statutory consultee.

“It is important that the club, supporters and other members of the public are aware that the county council’s position is unchanged. 

“It is up to the club to ensure that it can meet these minimum requirements as well as obtaining planning permission from Cherwell District Council for the stadium and for any other buildings and infrastructure that requires planning consent.”

This comes after a Freedom of Information request shared with the Oxford Mail stated the authority would not support any plans which included the closure of Oxford Road on matchdays.

The club has confirmed it is undertaking a planning application process to build a bridge over the road from the station.

Oxford United is looking to build a new home as the club’s licence agreement at the Kassam Stadium runs out in 2026.

The design includes a 180-bed hotel, restaurant, conference and event space, along with a health and wellbeing centre.