Nottingham Forest have today announced new plans to develop the City Ground and the Nigel Doughty Academy.
The plans for the training ground are centred around a new two-storey building along with enhancing existing facilities.
The new building will be ‘state-of-the-art’ with 14 changing rooms, three classrooms, a gym, physio, analysis suite, canteen and lounge. It will also include an additional on-site car park for all at the venue.
Plans will be submitted through the formal planning process to Rushcliffe Borough Council, where a decision will be made in the new year.
The proposal follows on from developments made earlier this season with the enhancement of the training pitches. The improvements are part of the club’s plans to meet the Category One academy licence.
Forest’s Chairman, Nicholas Randall, said: “This is another important milestone in enhancing the infrastructure of the club by Mr Marinakis, in line with our long-term aspirations.
“In addition to his continued investment in the playing staff, we are very grateful for the owner’s continued generosity and his vision for how he wants the football club to evolve.
“Everything we do as a club is geared towards continually improving standards to provide the best possible environment for us to progress and this latest investment another example of that.
Wilford Lane has been Forest’s home for 20 years, and its development is an integral part of the board’s planning for the future of the club.
The Reds have a strong history of developing youth players through the academy, into the first team and beyond.
Academy products include veterans such as Jermaine Jenas, Michael Dawson and Shaun Wright-Phillips as well as current stars like Patrick Bamford and Matty Cash.
Established as a hub for development Premier League legends, Roy Keane and John Terry, also joined the club early in their careers.
The Nottingham outfit has a number of academy products in their current first team, including Joe Worrall, Brennan Johnson, Alex Mighten.
The recent development and proposals for the training ground show how the board is committed to improving the club.
Forest have also submitted updates proposals to Rushcliffe Borough Council for a sustainable and environmentally friendly travel plan for visitors to the City Ground.
The proposals have been updated in hopes of gaining permission to knock down and re-build the Peter Taylor Stand.
With the owner, Evangelos Marinakis, spending around £2 million on the plans and work being due to begin over a year ago, there have been several delays in the planning process.
Randall added: “As we anticipated from the outset, the new stand has been a complex project.
“We hope these updated sustainable plans will pave the way for a full and final planning submission in the new year.
“Like all our supporters, we are keen to conclude the planning process as soon as we can as we are excited about the transformational impact this will have on our supporter matchday experience. We will continue to keep supporters updated on progress on this important project.”
The location of the City Ground is next to the River Trent and surrounded by a number of other buildings, making it hard for planning permission to be approved.
The pandemic has also impacted the club, making the cost of the development even greater than before.
However, Forest are keen to stay in the iconic location and re-develop the stand to expand their famous ground.
Having not played in the Premier League for over 20 years and currently sitting 16th in the Championship, the club view their development plans as a catalyst for change.
