OXFORD United say they are committed to ensuring any new stadium benefits the wider community after their plans for Stratfield Brake suffered a setback.

Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet this afternoon voted to defer the club’s proposal to lease the site until a four-week consultation period has been completed.

This will run from January 25 until February 21 on the council’s digital consultation and engagement platform letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk.

DEFERRED: Council delays decision on Oxford United's potential stadium site

The meeting heard from several councillors and members of the public, with many suggesting that the period between the plans going public last Monday and today’s discussion did not give enough time to gather the views of the community.

But with United’s lease at the Kassam Stadium running out in 2026, officers will begin exploratory discussions with the club, the council and its tenants at Stratfield Brake in the meantime.

A U’s statement said: “Oxford United Football Club thank Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet for their consideration of our proposal regarding a potential new stadium at Stratfield Brake.

“We trust and were reassured that the County Council understands the vital need to safeguard our club’s future within Oxfordshire.

“We also appreciate the concerns raised by councillors, and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring our proposals genuinely serve the wider community and is an asset that the whole county can be proud of.

“We were already committed to undertaking our own wide-reaching programme of community engagement and fully respect the council’s decision to bring this process forward.

LIVE: All the updates from today's meeting

“We look forward to supporting and working with the County Council to undertake their four week engagement programme prior to a final decision being made.

The U’s have asked to lease 18 hectares of Stratfield Brake for 250 years, with a view to building an 18,000-capacity stadium, sports and community grounds and hotel, retail and conference facilities.