NOTTINGHAM FOREST have received an update which will allow them to take another step towards renovating their stadium.
The Premier League side are plotting a huge revamp to the City Ground.
Plans could see capacity increase to 50,000 with the architects who expanded Anfield already on board.
Forest want to build two corners on the Trent End stand and they are now a step closer to doing so.
That’s because Rushcliffe Borough Council have confirmed the club does not need to provide an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as part of the planning process.
That means Forest will not have to carry out their own research into the potential environmental impact of the work, which should speed up the process.
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A letter from the council read: “The environmental sensitivity of this area has been considered and it is not located within a sensitive area for the purposes of the EIA.
“The Borough Council therefore concludes that proposed development is not likely to have significant effects on the environment and its screening opinion is that an Environmental Statement is not required in this instance.”
Forest’s initial plans to replace their oldest and smallest stand would have seen the capacity increase from 30,000 to 35,000.
However, KSS’ drawings would see the new structure stand at a whopping 58m – 20m higher than the first plans.
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Crucially, they want to build the new stand behind the existing one – so as not to significantly reduce the ground’s capacity during the construction.
Forest – who did consider moving their home entirely to a new site – also want to fill in the corners of the Trent End to add an extra 5,000 seats.
The exact updated capacity will not be announced until confirmation of the go-ahead, but is likely to be between 43,000 and 45,000.
