Glasner welcomes Forest expansion as Section 106 spotlights access and possible new bridge | OneFootball

Oliver Glasner says Nottingham Forest’s City Ground redevelopment underlines ambition after council approval to lift capacity well beyond its current level of just under 31,000.

He met Evangelos Marinakis in London on Monday to discuss the scheme, which was approved on Wednesday, then spoke on Thursday. Per NY Times, phase one would take the ground to 45,000, with a second phase up to as much as 52,500.

Phase one has full permission, with outline consent for phase two, both subject to a Section 106 agreement, largely on transport and access for bigger crowds. Glasner said infrastructure investment improves the atmosphere and gives something back to paying supporters.

Forest plan to rebuild three of the four stands, notably tripling the Peter Taylor Stand from 5,000 to 15,000, and infilling corners by the Trent End to add up to 5,000 seats. The first phase will cost at least £550million.

The club must contribute £1.75million for matchday bus services, £990,000 for parking restrictions, close to £400,000 for park-and-ride, £170,000 for canal-side works, information displays and e-bike docks, £100,000 for signage, and more than £400,000 for walking and cycle path upgrades.

Proposals to remove two of the six lanes on Trent Bridge were not approved, so Forest must find another way to move an extra 20,000 fans. No bridge is required or yet submitted, but a new crossing is widely seen as the likeliest fix. The Waterside Bridge, opened in June at about £18million, will help.

Source: NY Times

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