Rushcliffe Borough’s planning committee met this afternoon to vote on plans to increase capacity at The City Ground.
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Planning Committee today (July 28) approved Nottingham Forest’s plans for amendments to The City Ground, including a new stand that increases capacity and associated residential development.
Leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council, Simon Robinson, said: “Both parties have shown a commitment to approve the application and do what is best for the club, the supporters and Rushcliffe itself.
“We appreciate that Nottingham Forest are a very enthusiastic partner of the council. They bring a huge amount of business across the borough. We are absolutely delighted that this application has been approved and look forward to working with them in the future.”
The meeting at Rushcliffe Arena saw councilors vote to give the go-ahead to expand the site and build residential accommodation.
The vote was: 9 in favor and 2 against
The Planning Committee is made up of 11 District Councilors who make decisions on relevant applications, including larger scale applications such as club submissions.
As with all planning applications that require committee consideration, planning officers submit a report containing their recommendation.
The first phase of the plans would focus on redeveloping the Peter Taylor Stand by rebuilding it with an increased capacity of 5,000 supporters.
This would come alongside world-class dressing rooms, a museum, club shop, executive boxes and media suites.
The club also plans to make improvements to the other three sides of the ground, with the Bridgford Stand set for an extension.
The plans detail the redevelopment of the Peter Taylor Stand (including demolition of existing buildings/structures), a new public space, a replacement club shop, car park and associated works, and Planning permit scheme for up to 170 residential units including flexible uses on the ground floor a Nottingham Forest Football Club City Ground (including Champions Centre, Club Shop and Storage Warehouse and Rowing Club Britannia Boathouse)
Some, however, objected to the plans mainly in relation to matchday parking, infrastructure and the apartment block, including Cllr Sue Mallender (Mayor and Green Party Mayoress Lady Bay), who writes on the portal planning:
‘The main source of damage comes from Forest car parking and fans away from the roads in the Lady Bay neighbourhood.
“This often results in severe road blockage, with residents unable to find places to park in an area where most of the houses are Victorian and Edwardian buildings with no parking spaces.
“Even those slightly more modern houses in the area with garages do not have parking, as modern vehicles are too big for the garages built in the 1920s-50s.
“This fan parking makes the number 11 bus unable to service the area and access for emergency vehicles is difficult or impossible, putting lives at risk.”
In total, the plans have attracted 2,669 comments from the public, with 121 objections. See them here.
