A COUNTRYSIDE charity said that proposals for an alternative site for Oxford United’s new stadium only seem ‘a marginal improvement.’

The club is looking to lease land owned by Oxfordshire County Council, with a view to building an 18,000-capacity stadium with community and sports grounds, and hotel, retail and conference facilities.

Discussions have been taking place between the authority and the club since last year, involving a site at Stratfield Brake but yesterday the council said there were "considerable challenges" with it.  

Officers are now proposing a location south of Kidlington roundabout, west of Banbury Road and east of Frieze Way – close to Oxford Parkway railway station.

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But Helen Marshall, director of CPRE Oxfordshire, told the Oxford Mail that the new site seems like a marginal improvement.

She said: “We welcome the county council’s recognition that there are serious challenges with the Stratfield Brake site. 

“At first glance, this new site might seem a marginal improvement but it is still within the Oxford Green Belt, still threatens to coalesce Kidlington and Oxford and may even impact an area of ancient woodland. 

“There’s no point swapping one unsuitable site for another, so we still need all sides to come together to identify a more sustainable solution.  

“The county council could start by making this a more transparent process, rather than plans being discussed behind closed doors.”

 

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This story was written by Anna Colivicchi, she joined the team this year and covers health stories for the Oxfordshire papers. 

Get in touch with her by emailing: Anna.colivicchi@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @AnnaColivicchi