OXFORD East MP Anneliese Dodds has reiterated her backing for Oxford United’s new stadium plans during a debate in Parliament.
The discussion at Westminster Hall yesterday centred on ‘English Football: Financial Sustainability and Governance’.
The debate was led by Earley and Woodley MP Yuan Yang, who spoke at length about the ownership situation at Reading.
READ ALSO: Midfield ace has complete confidence U’s will retain Championship status
Speaking during the debate, Ms Dodds said: “Oxford United, which I was grateful that she [Ms Yang] mentioned, must be able to move out of the Kassam Stadium for which they’re charged unviable rent, despite lacking a fourth stand and many other problems.
“Does she agree with me that the club’s exciting proposals for a new stadium in Kidlington must go forward, but also that future governance models need to stop previous owners from entrapping clubs in unviable and unsustainable stadia?”
Ms Yang replied: “I very much agree with my honourable friend that stadiums are also vital assets and community assets, and I look forward one day hopefully to seeing Reading beat Oxford at the new Kidlington stadium.”
In September 2023, Ms Dodds became the first MP to give their public backing to United’s stadium proposals.
She hosted a reception on behalf of the U’s at the Houses of Parliament, and when asked whether she supported the proposed move to The Triangle, Ms Dodds responded: “Yes I do. I think everyone locally would love if they could stay playing their matches at the Kassam, but sadly that has just not proved possible given the current situation.
“We need to secure the future of Oxford United, so I do support the plans.”
READ AGAIN: MP becomes first to give public backing to stadium plans
READ MORE: Support for stadium outweighs opposition during reconsultation
Previously released CGI image of what the proposed stadium could look like (Image: Oxford United) United submitted a planning application to Cherwell District Council for a 16,000-capacity stadium at The Triangle, south of Kidlington Roundabout, at the end of February 2024.
It was announced last month that the council has asked for more time to review additional information, meaning the earliest that a decision will be made on the stadium application is now June 5.
The U’s see their licence agreement at the Kassam Stadium run out on June 30, 2026, and the club is therefore looking to build a new home at The Triangle.
The club says it is in advanced discussions regarding alternative short-term provisions for the period between the lease at the Kassam expiring in 2026 and the proposed stadium being ready.
This newspaper revealed last month that support for United’s proposed new stadium outweighed opposition with more than three-quarters of a reconsultation in favour of the plans.
Cherwell undertook a period of statutory reconsultation in the New Year ‘following the receipt of additional environmental information’ from the U’s at the end of last year.
More than 600 public comments were submitted to the council during the reconsultation, with research from the Oxford Mail unearthing that 483 (76.3 per cent) of those comments were in support, while 150 (23.7 per cent) were against the plans.