Housing and Communities secretary Steve Reed has confirmed he will not call in the application after it was granted planning permission by Cherwell District Council in August.

The decision removes the last major obstacle for the League One club’s move to a new home on green belt land known as the Triangle, near Kidlington.

United’s existing licence to play at the Kassam Stadium in Littlemore expires in 2026, forcing the club to find a permanent base after more than two decades at the site.

Chairman Grant Ferguson said the ruling means the club can finally start delivering its long-term vision.

“The Secretary of State’s decision not to call in the planning application for our 16,000-capacity stadium on land north of the city means the Club can now begin to deliver on its vision,” said Ferguson.

The all-electric stadium, designed by AFL Architects, will be the first of its kind in the UK. It will be powered entirely by renewable energy through air-source heat pumps, 3,500 sq m of solar panels and advanced heat recovery systems, cutting CO₂ emissions by around 80% compared with conventional heating.

The mixed-use site will also feature a 180-bedroom hotel, restaurant, conference and exhibition centre, gym, health and wellbeing facilities, and a community plaza.

Ridge and Partners led on site selection, sustainability and transport modelling, while Mott MacDonald is providing engineering services.

Once the Section 106 agreement setting out the club’s local infrastructure contributions is finalised, the formal decision notice will be issued. Construction is expected to take around 18 months once work begins.