Nottingham Forest’s City Ground redevelopment plans will be considered at a dedicated planning committee meeting, with a date still to be announced, Rushcliffe Borough Council has confirmed.
The council has clarified that its meeting on Thursday 10 September is the regular monthly planning meeting. A separate meeting will be arranged for the club’s application.
A Rushcliffe Borough Council spokesperson confirmed: “The meeting on September 10 is the council’s standard monthly planning meeting. A dedicated separate planning committee meeting on the club’s planning application will be announced as soon as possible.”
The clarification follows a reference to 10 September in a draft Section 106 planning agreement previously reported by the Wire. That document was unfinished and unsigned, with several details still subject to agreement. The council’s statement confirms that a date for the dedicated meeting remains to be announced.
Forest’s proposals involve two linked applications to expand its West Bridgford stadium in phases.
The first would replace the Peter Taylor Stand, fill in the Trent End corners and improve public spaces around the ground, increasing capacity from just over 31,000 to approximately 45,000. A separate outline application proposes replacing the Brian Clough Stand at a later stage, potentially taking capacity to 52,500.
Transport and the impact of larger crowds on surrounding roads and residential streets remain significant issues.
As previously reported by the Wire, a proposed £4.17 million transport package includes contributions towards matchday bus services, park-and-ride improvements, parking controls and walking and cycling facilities. The draft agreement also addresses replacement rowing facilities and flood protection, but its provisions remain subject to completion of the agreement and planning permission.
Forest’s transport proposals include removing one traffic lane in each direction from Trent Bridge to provide wider footways. Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council have said they cannot support permanent lane removal on the evidence submitted so far, identifying a new pedestrian and cycle bridge near the stadium as their preferred alternative.
The latest clarification also follows support for the redevelopment from three Nottingham MPs. Nadia Whittome, Alex Norris and Lilian Greenwood said the expansion could benefit the local economy and allow more fans to attend, while acknowledging the need to address additional transport demands.
