An application has been submitted to Oxford City Council by a Brighton-based events company seeking permission to stage a music festival at South Park.

The Festivals Group UK has put forward a proposal for an annual event spanning one weekend in August, operating between midday and 11pm from Thursday through Sunday.

If the licence receives approval, the arrangement would commence on August 1, 2027.

The submission covers provisions for live and recorded music performances, dancing, and bar facilities, with a proposed maximum attendance of 9,999 individuals at any given time.

The company describes itself as a group of experienced event specialists offering comprehensive services for live entertainment, festivals, and bar operations, with over two decades of industry experience.

Among its current portfolio is the Beyond Boundaries festival held at Stanmer Park in Brighton during September, the Land Beyond Festival at East Brighton Park, and the Noughty 90s Festival in Newcastle, which has been running for seven years.

Additionally, the organisation operates The Park Series, a one-day concert programme featuring performances by acts including McFly, JLS, Aitch, Madness, DJ Spooney, Becky Hill, and James Arthur across venues in Brighton, Leicester, and Hitchin.

Should this new venture proceed, it would mark a significant development for Oxford’s music scene following the conclusion of the Common People festival, which had occupied South Park as its venue.

That event attracted approximately 10,000 attendees over the late May bank holiday weekend across its three-year history.

The lineup featured a diverse range of performers, from Duran Duran and Craig David to The Jacksons and Boney M, as well as Oxford-based band Ride.

The festival ceased operations in 2019 after encountering financial challenges and accumulating debts exceeding £267,000.

Prior to Common People’s establishment, South Park had served as a venue for numerous musical occasions, including the Jazz in the Park series and the Fun in the Parks programme, which was organised by Oxford City Council with Oxford Mail sponsorship between 2002 and 2005.

In 2000, an event titled Party in the Park drew more than 40,000 people to see Craig David perform.

The park has also accommodated major headline concerts, most notably Radiohead’s appearance in July 2001, when approximately 40,000 fans gathered to watch the local band perform a homecoming set.

Support acts on that occasion included Supergrass, Beck, jazz musician Humphrey Lyttleton, and The Rock of Travolta.