Council agrees to sell land to Nottingham Forest

The club previously said its discussions about future plans for the City Ground would remain confidential

Nottingham City Council has agreed to make the land Nottingham Forest's City Ground sits on available for sale to the club.

The council's executive members met on Tuesday and formally agreed to put the freehold up for sale to the club.

Leader of the authority, Neghat Khan, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service it had done "everything it can" to get the deal done, adding it was down to the club to reach its conclusion.

The club said in a statement earlier that its purchase depended on "relevant permissions" that would allow it to realise "hugely ambitious plans" for the City Ground.

Ms Khan said: "Exec board has agreed to sell the freehold, sell the land, to Forest.

"So now that means we have done everything within Nottingham City Council to get the approval to get that deal done. Now all will be subject to signing legal contracts.”

According to council documents, the authority is looking to conclude the sale and receive the money in the 2024-25 financial year.

The club wants to increase the City Ground's capacity

Deputy leader, Ethan Radford, said officers would work with the club to conclude the transaction in a timely manner.

In its previous statement, the club said: "Any decision to purchase the freehold will be entirely conditional on Nottingham Forest first being granted the relevant permissions that will allow us to realise our hugely ambitious plans for a significantly larger stadium capacity, world-class hospitality spaces and associated substantial real estate development in the vicinity of the ground."

The club has been contacted for further comment.

Nottingham Forest currently leases the land from the council, but there had been just 33 years left on the existing agreement.

A lease extension to 250 years was seen as critical so the club could realise its plans to expand the stadium.

However, negotiations resulted in a stalemate earlier this year after the council asked for a larger sum for the lease.

It sought a rise from £250,000 annually to about £1m, following the club’s promotion to the Premier League, the LDRS said.

The council said at the time it was legally bound to make sure it achieved best value in decisions, particularly after declaring effective bankruptcy in November.

Neghat Khan became leader of the city council in May

Talks on the sale resumed when Ms Khan took over as leader of the Labour-run authority in May.

She announced during a meeting on 8 July that terms had been agreed in principle for the sale of the freehold for an undisclosed sum, before the club clarified it was still working on it.

Planning permission for the redevelopment of the Peter Taylor Stand, including the demolition of existing buildings, a new public realm, replacement club shop, car parking and associated works, was granted by Rushcliffe Borough Council in July 2022.

Outline planning permission for up to 170 residential units, including flexible uses (Class E) at ground floor, was also granted by the authority.

However, the club does not yet have planning permission to extend the Bridgford Stand.

Planning permission for this element would allow the club to achieve its revised vision set out in its masterplan, within which there are hopes to get stadium capacity from just short of 30,000 up to 40,000, the LDRS said.

Neil Clarke, the Conservative leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council, said should any further plans come forward “these will go through our usual independent planning process”.

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