The Infrastructure Projects

[Simon]

not sure if it’s a rehash or not but saw a tweet by the bbc earlier and think it is detailed in this

[northeastred]

Club said it's not sorted ha

Sounds like it will only be sorted if we get our own way

[Salvatore Matrecano]

I don’t think this is done yet by a long way. Clearly not happening unless the club can build what they want and that hasn’t been agreed yet.


Club Statement: The City Ground

After today’s comments from the leader of the City Council, the Club wishes to clarify the situation for supporters and stakeholders regarding the freehold for The City Ground.

For absolute clarity, we continue to work on the terms for a conditional deal for the purchase of the freehold. Any decision to purchase the freehold will be entirely conditional on Nottingham Forest first being granted the relevant permissions that will allow us to realise our hugely ambitious plans for a significantly larger stadium capacity, world-class hospitality spaces and associated substantial real estate development in the vicinity of the ground.

Our discussions remain confidential and the Club will update fans when meaningful progress has been achieved.

[Simon]

no way they will buy it without the assurance they can put what they want on the site i guess

[Tricky]

I'm a bit uncomfortable with the Council saying it will happen upon approval by the Executive Committee of the City Council. But for me, there is one glaring omission from this statement and that is the Finance Scrutiny Committee which is in place to ensure the Exec Board are fully accountable for any financial dealings, one way or the other to ensure transparency within all of its dealings. 

For me, any sale of the freehold has to be scrutinised either at Finance Committee level or at a Full Council meeting.

[DR Forest]

I don’t think this is done yet by a long way. Clearly not happening unless the club can build what they want and that hasn’t been agreed yet.


Club Statement: The City Ground

After today’s comments from the leader of the City Council, the Club wishes to clarify the situation for supporters and stakeholders regarding the freehold for The City Ground.

For absolute clarity, we continue to work on the terms for a conditional deal for the purchase of the freehold. Any decision to purchase the freehold will be entirely conditional on Nottingham Forest first being granted the relevant permissions that will allow us to realise our hugely ambitious plans for a significantly larger stadium capacity, world-class hospitality spaces and associated substantial real estate development in the vicinity of the ground.

Our discussions remain confidential and the Club will update fans when meaningful progress has been achieved.

It’s all about the bigger footprint

(And removing the awkward sods in planning who have stalled this for years).

[stirred]

So a decision soon from the council “… an official decision on the deal set for July 16.”

With that in mind and reading back the Athletic/Dan Taylor’s February piece, a couple of statements caught my eye around timing:

“If the city council gives us the nod, he (Marinakis) wants me to get on with everything straight away,” says Cartledge.
…
“ So what exactly is the issue with the council? And why is it also preventing Forest from sending in the bulldozers, as they had hoped, to start dismantling the Peter Taylor Stand this summer? ”
…
“ Ideally, Marinakis would like to have the training ground, the two new stands and everything else up and running at various points between now and the end of 2027. Work on the Peter Taylor Stand would take roughly 18 months, though it is expected the lower tier would be operational much earlier.”

I guess we won’t be starting this summer now, but could it be something we start mid-season?

[Jean_claude_killy]

Given that the statement includes the words "and associated substantial real estate development in the vicinity of the ground" it looks like the Plans go much further than the Peter Taylor stand.

The Council have come out and stated that they have done their bit, which puts incredible pressure on Rushcliffe.

Do they want to look like the party who scuppered the deal when it was almost home and dried?

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

So what do we do about the fans who can't get tickets. For 29000 people it's very easy to sit on the side of the city ground. For all those who can't get seats.... Those people need something to change. 5000 extra seats hits about a third of the waiting list.

City ground or no city ground something needs to change and the sooner the better

I think we are now looking at the possibility of finding a way to increase the CG by a further 15,000.

If that indeed is the case then I am all for stopping where we are thank you very much.

::

[Tricky]

I don’t think this is done yet by a long way. Clearly not happening unless the club can build what they want and that hasn’t been agreed yet.


Club Statement: The City Ground

After today’s comments from the leader of the City Council, the Club wishes to clarify the situation for supporters and stakeholders regarding the freehold for The City Ground.

For absolute clarity, we continue to work on the terms for a conditional deal for the purchase of the freehold. Any decision to purchase the freehold will be entirely conditional on Nottingham Forest first being granted the relevant permissions that will allow us to realise our hugely ambitious plans for a significantly larger stadium capacity, world-class hospitality spaces and associated substantial real estate development in the vicinity of the ground.

Our discussions remain confidential and the Club will update fans when meaningful progress has been achieved.

The problem with this is the fact that the City Council only own the land the CG is built on. It has no powers to determine planning permission as that falls onto Rushcliffe BC and to a lesser extent the County Council.

The City and County Councils are often at loggerheads with each other, irrespective of which political party is in charge at any particular time. So to suggest the City Council will wave its magic wand and everything NFFC demand will be granted is nothing short of short sighted fantasy. The City Council have got less influence on Rushcliffe than the County have. Rushcliffe Borough Councillors do make up some of the Countys elected members. 

If this is the case and Forest are holding out for all of the permissions being granted before they buy the freehold, this is going to continue to be a long drawn out process.

Not a political statement here, just the situation as I see it

[Paplane]

I don’t think this is done yet by a long way. Clearly not happening unless the club can build what they want and that hasn’t been agreed yet.


Club Statement: The City Ground

After today’s comments from the leader of the City Council, the Club wishes to clarify the situation for supporters and stakeholders regarding the freehold for The City Ground.

For absolute clarity, we continue to work on the terms for a conditional deal for the purchase of the freehold. Any decision to purchase the freehold will be entirely conditional on Nottingham Forest first being granted the relevant permissions that will allow us to realise our hugely ambitious plans for a significantly larger stadium capacity, world-class hospitality spaces and associated substantial real estate development in the vicinity of the ground.

Our discussions remain confidential and the Club will update fans when meaningful progress has been achieved.

The problem with this is the fact that the City Council only own the land the CG is built on. It has no powers to determine planning permission as that falls onto Rushcliffe BC and to a lesser extent the County Council.

The City and County Councils are often at loggerheads with each other, irrespective of which political party is in charge at any particular time. So to suggest the City Council will wave its magic wand and everything NFFC demand will be granted is nothing short of short sighted fantasy. The City Council have got less influence on Rushcliffe than the County have. Rushcliffe Borough Councillors do make up some of the Countys elected members. 

If this is the case and Forest are holding out for all of the permissions being granted before they buy the freehold, this is going to continue to be a long drawn out process.

Not a political statement here, just the situation as I see it

Yep, a council can't just wave a planning application through. It doesn't work like that. Any decison can be challenged as being unlawful through the courts.

[JollyLolly]

Put Angela Rayner on the Forest board and under the new proposed planning laws she has the final say on all matters, no problem!