Sport facilities run by Nottingham Forest in the Community are among parts of the Forest Recreation Ground due to get a major overhaul as part of a £2.6 million regeneration.
Nottingham City Council has given the planning go-ahead for a series of improvements the facilities at the trust’s Forest Sport Zone, at the Mansfield Road end of the historic city park.
There will now be a double-height extension to the Forest Pavilion at the all-weather football pitches, improved access, and new modernised playing surfaces.
Planning documents read: “The development concerns one of the two sports pitches and the pavilion office.
“The proposal is to extend the existing pavilion office, install a ramp between the two pitches, replace the floodlighting, fencing and artificial pitch surface on the western pitch.”
Plans were approved by the council on Monday, June 23. Costing around £2.6 million, the development is being paid for by the trust and other city organisation partners.
The Forest Sports Zone has been run by the trust for several years to provide a community focus point for sport, particularly football. Around 2,500 people use it each week.
The pavilion will now be extended upwards, using a mix of cladding and brick with a slate roof to match the existing structure.
There will be a staircase and ramp installed between the two pitches for easy access, along with new floodlighting and fencing to the northern edge of the pitch.
The existing astro turf pitch on one of the pitches will also be replaced with a more advanced 3G pitch.
A 3G pitch is made up of longer synthetic grass with better grip, a smoother playing surface, and a more weather proofed surface than regular grass pitches.
The improved lighting is expected to produce less light spill than the current system – reducing impact on wildlife and neighbouring areas.
Documents read: “Existing and proposed reports have been provided with contour lines to show light spillage.
“The reports show that the proposed lighting would create less light spillage than the existing floodlighting.
“Given that this improves the existing situation, it is considered the proposal would not significantly impact the Local Wildlife Site and bats compared to the existing situation.”
