Oxford United Football Club (OUFC) has unveiled further details about its plans for a new stadium.
The League One club said it is currently preparing to submit a full planning application to Cherwell District Council for the new development at The Triangle, which it says will be ‘all-electric’.
The club’s licence agreement for the Kassam Stadium expires in 2026.
The wider scheme includes provision at the proposed venue for the following:
- 180-bed hotel
- Restaurant
- Conference centre
- Health & wellbeing space
- New gym
- Community plaza
The new 16,000-capacity stadium, near Kidlington in Oxford, would be powered solely by electricity and not use any high carbon intensity fossil fuels such as gas, the club said.
It will also feature 3,000 sqm of solar panels on the roof, air source heat pumps, rain storage and recycling systems, areas of biodiversity, an automated Building Energy Management System, and incorporate a modern building fabric design and heat recovery solutions during construction.
The news comes days after the club signed the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework.
OUFC has committed to halving its carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2040.
Jon Clarke, development director at Oxford United, said: “The standout element of the stadium is it will be the most sustainable mid-sized sports venue in the country.
“We want to make the most of the opportunity to create something special – it would be one of the greenest football stadiums to be built.”
Adding: “The stadium design has sustainability and visitor experience at its core.
“We’ve maximised modern technology, design and progressive thinking to create the benchmark for future design of stadiums with the protection of our planet in firm focus.
“By avoiding natural gas usage on site and by using highly efficient equipment to serve a high-quality building, the carbon emissions associated with this unique venue will be radically reduced resulting in a very low impact home.”
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