Finance expert reacts to Oxford United new stadium backlash

Oxford United have gained planning permission to build a new 16,000-seater stadium on ‘The Triangle’ in Kidlington but have faced consistent opposition by campaigners ‘Friends of Stratfield Brake’ (FOSB).

FOSB recently lodged a judicial review claim against the newly-approved stadium, claiming the council’s decision was unlawful and raising concerns about the impact on nearby woodland, wildlife and local roads.

However a high court judge has refused the initial application for permission to bring a full judicial review, with a statement from the football club stating the reasons: “The arguments relating to the woodland adjacent to the proposed site were deemed “unsustainable”, whilst the ground concerning matchday traffic measurement measures provided no valid basis for judicial review.

“Oxford United continues to work closely with Cherwell District Council to ensure the Court fully understands the strength of the planning decision and why a substantive judicial review hearing is unnecessary. The club remains confident that the claim will ultimately be dismissed.”

In a legal update, FoSB said it would press ahead with the next step by seeking an oral permission hearing, where a barrister will argue in person why the case should be allowed to go forward.

Plans for Oxford United stadium (Image: Oxford United)

On the Price of Football podcast, finance expert and University of Liverpool lecturer Kieran Maguire has reacted to the latest developments in the ongoing saga.

“We’ve spoken to Tim Williams (Oxford United CEO) and, at the time, we knew that they were trying to move to a new stadium,” Maguire said.

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“Having been through this with Brighton & Hove Albion, people don’t want a football club near to them that they will make all of these accusations.

“They tend to be a bit overplayed but in terms of disturbances, light pollution, parking issues on match day, life does get not as ideal as it would be if you didn’t have a football stadium.

A CGI of Oxford United’s new stadium (Image: Fortitude Communications)

“Equally, there are lots of positives. Many local people can get match day work and so on. But the group that was trying to halt the stadium has its judicial review rejected.”

Maguire’ co-host and comedian Kevin Day added: “The problem is, it’s a wonderful city and it’s a great football club but around Oxford and Oxfordshire [there are] a lot of people whose income levels are such that they don’t need somewhere for their kids to go and get a minimum wage job twice a month basically.

“And also I think it reflects the fact that many people who don’t know about football automatically think that a football stadium will mean trouble in their area.”