Group makes formal complaint over stadium plans

A campaign group opposing plans for a 16,000-seater football stadium has made a formal complaint over the lack of protection given to a local woodland.

The Friends of Stratfield Brake (FoSB) said Natural England had twice identified woodland at The Triangle, near Kidlington, as "ancient", but withdrew the status over "reputational concerns" and "political interference".

Oxford United was awarded planning permission for a new stadium on the site last year, but the final decision is still subject to an appeal.

A spokesperson for Natural England said it recognised the "strength of feeling" around the development and was "reviewing new evidence".

Woodland that dates back to the 1600s can be considered "ancient" and awarded greater protection under planning laws.

But there are few reliable maps dating back to this era, meaning the designation needs to be decided based on scientific evidence and the balance of probability.

As part of its complaint, FoSB has released a series of emails gathered through freedom of information requests.

One document published by the campaign group was an email sent to Natural England in July 2025 from the office for Anneliese Dodds MP.

It said: "Natural England's retracting of their position on the ancient woodland designation is fundamental to being able to move this application forward.

"For a statutory consultee to submit this stance (and an incorrect stance) only a matter of days before OUFC are due to go to committee… is frankly unacceptable.

"Natural England have put the future of the club at real risk."

In response, Dodds said: "I wholeheartedly reject the unfounded accusation that I attempted to inappropriately pressure a statutory consultee. That insinuation could not be further from the truth.

"Instead, what happened was that one of my staff contacted Natural England, first with OUFC's concerns about the process and then asking for a meeting to discuss the matter of their objection with them.

"As it happened, Natural England in any case withdrew their objection, so the meeting did not take place.

"Hundreds of my constituents have contacted me with their concerns about the need for a new stadium for Oxford United, and this issue is repeatedly raised with me on the doorstep.

"If I did not reflect that concern in my activities as a Member of Parliament, I would be failing to properly serve my constituents."

The campaign group said officers for Natural England re-examined the woodland's status in December 2025, after planning was approved.

According to the campaign group, a specialist wrote in an email: "The balance of available evidence has moved in favour of this site being classified as ancient woodland and Natural England will add the site to the Ancient Woodland Inventory."

But it said other emails between Natural England staff suggested the decision was overturned internally, with one mentioning "how much grief this caused last time".

The same email then allegedly went on to say: "What else might we do here to secure a good outcome without causing further planning delay?"

In a statement, Natural England said: "We understand the strength of feeling from a range of parties to this development.

"Natural England is currently reviewing new evidence presented to us regarding the features on the site and our findings will be publicly available."

FoSB is still involved in legal proceedings over the proposed stadium, making a final appeal for a judicial review following a dismissal by the High Court last month.

But the campaigners said they did not expect the formal complaint against Natural England to stop the stadium from being built.

A representative said: "I honestly don't think it can because planning permission has been granted.

"The only thing we can hope for is, if the stadium is constructed, they do the maximum they possibly can to protect the woodland."