Opponents of Oxford United’s proposed stadium will appeal after judicial review refused

Friends of Stratfield Brake (FoSB), the campaign group opposing Oxford United's planned new stadium, said it will appeal after a judge refused permission for a judicial review. The group says its lawyers advised there are grounds to take the case to the Court of Appeal despite a second refusal at a High Court permission hearing.

• Location and approval: The proposed stadium would be built on land called the Triangle, to the south of Kidlington. Cherwell District Council granted planning permission and the government later confirmed the approval.
• Project scope: The plans include a 16,000-seat stadium and associated development: a 180-bed hotel, restaurant, conference centre and community plaza.
• FoSB's complaint: Campaigners lodged legal action in April, citing concerns about impacts on local wildlife and planned road closures related to the development. They launched a fundraiser to cover legal costs.

FoSB first sought a judicial review earlier in the year. A High Court permission hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice resulted in a refusal for a full judicial review. This was the second time the group's request had been denied. Following that refusal, FoSB said it would lodge an appeal with the Court of Appeal within the seven-day window available after the judgment.

Woodland status and Natural England's reversal

Part of the contention relates to nearby Stratfield Brake woodland. Natural England's woodland specialists initially agreed the area was probably ancient woodland. That view was later reversed after Natural England said the trees in question did not appear on the 18th- and 19th-century maps it had studied.

FoSB said that, while mindful that legal challenges are "an uphill battle," they believe the potential damage to the woodland and impacts on the local community justify continuing the legal fight. Oxford United previously described the stadium as a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" and has warned the club's future could be jeopardised without the new ground. The club's current home, the Kassam Stadium, has a lease that expires in 2028.

FoSB intends to seek permission to appeal at the Court of Appeal. If permission is granted, the appeal would contest the High Court's decision to refuse a judicial review. There is a seven-day deadline to refer the case to the appellate court after the High Court judgment.

The dispute connects planning law, environmental assessment, and the future of a local football club. If the appeal proceeds it will extend legal uncertainty around the project and could affect construction timetables and the club's planning for the period after the Kassam lease ends.

• Whether the Court of Appeal agrees to hear the case.