What Nottingham Forest may have to build to complete 52,000 City Ground expansion

Nottingham Forest's ambitious plans to increase the City Ground's capacity to 52,500 could require more than just a redevelopment of the stadium itself.

A new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Trent has emerged as a potential requirement, with local authorities questioning whether existing transport arrangements can cope with the increased crowds.

What could Nottingham Forest have to build?

Forest's plans would see the City Ground's capacity rise from its current 30,445 to 45,000 in the first stage, before a further 7,500 seats could take the stadium beyond the 52,000 mark.

However, the increased number of supporters crossing the River Trent has created a major transport issue, with Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham City Council unable to support Forest's proposal to permanently remove one northbound and one southbound lane from Trent Bridge and replace them with wide footways.

The councils have instead identified a new pedestrian and cycle bridge close to the City Ground as the most obvious alternative, potentially providing a dedicated route for supporters while allowing Trent Bridge to retain its existing road capacity.

The exact design of the crossing has not yet been agreed, with its location, width, access points and connecting routes all still needing further assessment before any project could move forward.

Forest's submitted crowd-flow work suggests 12.5 metres of pedestrian space would be needed for comfortable movement across Trent Bridge after matches, while the proposed arrangement would provide a clear width of 10.4 metres and rely on supporters spreading evenly across both sides.

Alongside a potential new bridge, the wider transport package includes improvements around Lady Bay Bridge, additional public transport and shuttle bus capacity, wider pedestrian routes and the recently opened Waterside Bridge further along the Trent.

The issue remains a key part of the planning process, with Nottinghamshire County Council making clear that the river-crossing question must be resolved before the stadium expansion can proceed.

FGG says: A bridge will be crucial to Forest's expansion

Forest's plans would represent a huge transformation for the City Ground, but increasing capacity by more than 20,000 supporters inevitably brings significant transports challenges.

A dedicated pedestrian and cycle bridge would appear to be the best long-term solution, especially if it allows Trent Bridge to retain its road capacity while giving supporters a safer route across the river.