Nottingham Forest stadium redevelopment plan approved

The total cost for the project is now expected to be in excess of £94m

Plans to expand Nottingham Forest's City Ground have been approved by councillors.

A scheme to redevelop the City Ground was first put forward in 2019 but has been given greater urgency since the club's promotion to the Premier League.

The total cost for the project is now expected to be in excess of £94m.

Rushcliffe Borough Council's planning committee voted to approve plans which will see the ground's capacity increase to 35,000 at a meeting on Thursday.

Councillors voted for the plans by 9 to 2 following a lengthy debate.

Speaking in the meeting, a spokesperson for the club told councillors the development will deliver a "sense of pride".

He said: "There's a real prospect of delivering a key piece of sporting infrastructure, it's great for the club, the borough, the city and wider area.

"That sense of pride, I think, will be very important. The architecture is fantastic, as well as the space around the building, the new plaza."

Nottingham Forest's City Ground is on the banks of the River Trent

The club previously said it was important to ensure its home remained on the banks of the River Trent, rather than relocating to a newly-built stadium.

Forest have played at the City Ground which has a current capacity of about 30,000 since 1898, but the stadium has not seen any major development for 25 years.

Following the decision, the club said: "We believe that the development of the site is crucial to maintaining the club's status in the Premier League and all of the benefits to the local community and economy which this status brings.

"The decision now opens the door to the Club to have detailed discussions with its advisers and partners on how and when the development will be delivered.

"These discussions will be undertaken as soon as practicable and the club remains determined to provide the wonderful supporters of the Club with a stadium of which they can be truly proud in the modern era."

The approved plans include the rebuilding of the Peter Taylor Stand to create 5,000 more seats as well as public space and parking.

Documents show the club has also applied for permission in principle to build a 13-storey apartment building.

It is anticipated the development would be phased over a number of years, with the stadium needing to be completed prior to the housing.

The plans concentrate on changes to the main stand with added features around the ground

The club would in part sell the housing site to fund the stadium's construction, the documents say.

They would also pay £470,000 towards community infrastructure such as schools and health care.