Nottingham Forest are preparing for an even more ambitious redevelopment of the City Ground, according to the latest planning documents submitted to local authorities.

Up to 45,000 seats in the revamped stadium?

Back in June, the club received approval to rebuild the Peter Taylor Stand, a project that would have increased capacity from 30,000 to 35,000. But Forest have now presented the Rushcliffe Borough Council with a revised proposal — one that envisions a significantly larger transformation. The updated plans include not only the reconstruction of the Peter Taylor Stand, but also the filling in of the corners next to the Trent End. With these changes, the stadium’s capacity could rise to between 43,000 and 45,000 seats.

The exact number of seats will be confirmed once the design phase is complete, representatives of the Savills firm, acting on behalf of Nottingham Forest, wrote in their submission. If approved, the upgraded Peter Taylor Stand alone would accommodate around 10,000 additional fans, including some 4,650 in hospitality and VIP areas. The enclosed corners by the Trent End would add another 5,000 seats.

© Benoy, Nottingham Forest | 2021 project

Expanded infrastructure and surroundings

The revised planning application also details new public spaces, pedestrian connections, parking areas, green zones, and other infrastructure surrounding the ground. An earlier version of the project included 170 residential units near the City Ground, but that element has now been dropped entirely. The original plans had called for the demolition of the Peter Taylor Stand, the Champion Centre, the club shop, and the Britannia Boathouse. The new version also requires the removal of the Sims Boathouse and several nearby homes. Only 45 of the current 171 parking spaces are expected to remain.

© Benoy, Nottingham Forest | 2018 project

The region’s most modern stadium in sight

In June, the planning committee had unanimously approved the previous proposal to demolish the Peter Taylor Stand and had given preliminary backing to the housing project. During that meeting, the club’s legal representative called the plan the first step in the evolution of the City Ground. The earlier redevelopment was projected to add £13 million annually to the local economy and create 264 new jobs.

Now, Nottingham Forest’s expanded plan shows that the club’s ambitions go well beyond that. The goal: to turn the City Ground into one of the largest and most modern stadiums in the region.