The Head of Planning Services has submitted a report to put in place a mechanism for this council to assist in bringing forward the Oxford Local Plan 2036 proposals for Oxford Stadium if the policy approach to retain the stadium is supported by the Planning Inspector examining the Local Plan.

Recommendations: That Cabinet resolves (subject to the Local Plan policy for Oxford Stadium (SP52) to retain the Stadium with enabling residential development being found sound by the appointed Planning Inspector) to:

1.    Seek to procure a development partner/operator, with a viable business plan, to try to acquire the Oxford Stadium by agreement and deliver the requirements set out in Policy SP52 but to indemnify the Council for the associated costs; and 

2.    Confirm that if the Oxford Stadium cannot be acquired by agreement, then, as a last resort it would be willing, if necessary, to use its Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers to acquire the site; and to

3.    Note that if an option to use CPO powers was to be pursued a further report would need to be submitted to Cabinet to seek approval for a detailed scheme for the redevelopment of this site demonstrating that the legal and policy tests for the use of its CPO powers had been satisfied. This would need to be accompanied by a recommendation to Council to seek authority to set up a budget for any additional costs for the implementation of its CPO powers, which would be redeemed from the development partner.

The Head of Planning Services had submitted a report to put in place a mechanism for the Council to assist in bringing forward the Oxford Local Plan 2036 proposals for Oxford Stadium if the policy approach to retain the stadium is supported by the Planning Inspector examining the Local Plan.

Councillor Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Planning and Sustainable Transport, introduced the report which represented one of the last pieces of work prior to examination of the Local Plan later in the month. It had become evident that planning policies were now being judged, very clearly, against deliverability and this would be a key consideration in relation to this matter. The Local Plan policy seeks to retain the stadium as a sports venue for greyhound and speedway racing together with sporting leisure and community uses while, also, allowing for the development of some housing.

The next step in the process would be the Local Plan hearings and the view of the Planning Inspector which, if not supportive of the report’s proposals, was likely to be the end of the matter. If, on the other hand, the proposals are accepted by the Inspectors, then the recommendations of the report would be pursued. The Council was not looking to take the site into public ownership but instead act to facilitate the policies coming forward and would only ever entertain the use of a Compulsory Purchase Order as a very last resort.

The Planning Policy & Place Manager said that contributions by members of the public to the Local Plan hearings were at the discretion of the Inspectors. It would be unusual for those who had not made submissions at the Regulation 19 consultation stage to be able to contribute at the examination stage but anyone wishing to do so could write to the Inspectors. She noted however that the deadline for asking to appear at the examination hearings set by the Inspectors had passed on 01 November. She explained that hearings would be held in public and anyone could attend to observe.

Cabinet members were appreciative of the work being done by Councillor Hollingsworth and officers to try and enable this important asset being brought back into use and encouraged members of the local community to contact the Inspector to  let their voices be heard.

Cabinet resolved, (subject to the Local Plan policy for Oxford Stadium (SP52) to retain the Stadium with enabling residential development being found sound by the appointed Planning Inspector,) to:

1.Seek to procure a development partner / operator, with a viable business plan, to try to acquire the Oxford Stadium by agreement and deliver the requirements set out in Policy SP52 but to indemnify the Council for the associated costs; and, 

2.Confirm that if the Oxford Stadium cannot be acquired by agreement, then, as a last resort it would be willing, if necessary, to use its Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers to acquire the site; and to

3.Note that if an option to use CPO powers was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94