Fresh concerns have emerged over the redevelopment of the City Ground, and it is linked to the matchday road closures that could create legal issues.
The Premier League club has been pushing ahead with an ambitious expansion of its historic home, but the project now faces scrutiny over their plans to close the Trent Bridge lane on matchdays.
The club believes that closing one of the three lanes on both sides of the bridge would allow easier pedestrian movement to the stadium after expansion.
Highways officials raise legal concerns over road closures
Highways officers from Nottinghamshire County Council have raised concerns that closing Trent Bridge Lane, noting that it could require additional legal permissions and transport planning measures before any expansion of the City Ground can proceed.
In the report from a planning officer from the county council, they noted that the legality of the action is still in question.
“There is a basic legal question which needs to be answered, as to the acceptability of the applicant seeking to close the public highway as a form of mitigation to facilitate their development,” the report read.
“Whilst the highway authority have the power to close the highway for safety reasons or planned one-off events, it is unclear whether it is reasonable or indeed legal for these powers to be used to facilitate a development proposal with permanent and known impacts.”
The Nottinghamshire County Council's highways team also raised concerns about how the expansion will affect other roads.
Ambitious City Ground redevelopment plans
Nottingham Forest have been working on plans to modernise the City Ground, with a major redevelopment centred on replacing the ageing Peter Taylor Stand.
The project would significantly increase capacity at the stadium, potentially raising it beyond 35,000 seats initially, with longer-term ambitions to push the venue past 50,000 as further phases are completed.
The redevelopment is seen as a crucial step in improving facilities and boosting matchday revenue, particularly since Forest’s return to the Premier League.
However, because the stadium sits in a dense residential area next to the River Trent and close to Trent Bridge, infrastructure and transport planning have become key issues in the approval process.
Reports suggest that the club are already planning on different ways to manage the potential increase in vehicle traffic around the stadium.
FGG Says
Nottingham Forest’s City Ground redevelopment highlights the challenges of modernising historic stadiums located in tightly packed urban areas. While expanding capacity could bring major financial and sporting benefits, transport and safety planning are just as important as construction itself.
If the Trent Bridge road closure issue is not resolved with Nottinghamshire County Council, it could delay the project further. For Forest, finding a solution that balances supporter safety, local infrastructure and legal requirements will be essential to finally moving the long-awaited redevelopment forward.