City council 'not to blame' for Nottingham Forest stadium relocation plan as stalemate continues
Nottingham City Council is not to blame for the stall in negotiations over Nottingham Forest's City Ground future, according to a leading councillor. Talks over extending the club's lease at the City Ground have hit the buffers, with Forest accusing the council of demanding too much money.
Amid the reports, the Independent Alliance group of councillors at Nottinghamshire County Council called for land at Toton - previously earmarked for HS2 - to be offered as a new stadium site. Councillor Keith Girling, the county council's cabinet member for economic development, later said Forest had "expressed interest" in county council land.
Councillor Steve Battlemuch, himself a Reds season ticket holder, has now claimed it was not the city council that caused the stall in talks. "All Forest fans want to concentrate on for the next 10 days is staying up," said the Labour Wollaton West councillor on the city council.
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"That’s the priority. However I urge NFFC (Nottingham Forest Football Club) fans not to fall for the hype that the council is responsible for any potential move. The negotiations are stalled and it’s not the council that’s stalled them."
A city council spokesperson also said that the authority was ready to continue the talks, adding: "We can only do that if Forest come back with meaningful comparable evidence on their valuation of the site, which has been repeatedly requested. At present, we’ve simply been told what the club is not prepared to pay without a constructive way forward being proposed."
The club unveiled plans back in 2019 to expand the City Ground, with a central part of the long-term vision for stadium to increase the capacity of the Peter Taylor Stand by knocking it down and rebuilding it
A new 169-unit residential block near the existing Bridgford House apartments was also earmarked under the wider plans put forward by the Reds. Approval was given by Rushcliffe Borough Council in the summer of 2022, with work yet to start because certain conditions need to be met - including the demolition and relocation of boathouses beside the River Trent.
The existing lease on the City Ground site - where the Reds have played since 1898 - has a limited time left on it and talks about a new 250-year lease have hit a stalemate. The city council are said to want to increase the yearly rent to £1 million from £250,000.
“The club continue to be frustrated,” chairman Tom Cartledge told The Athletic. “Neither the leader of the council, the CEO nor any of the commissioners appointed by central government have reached out to the club.
“Nobody is knocking on the door. Nobody is trying to start the relationship again and say, ‘How do we find a way?’ And in the meantime, other councils and landowners are providing opportunities that we have to consider.
“That (Toton) is one of several potential spots. It’s not as easy as to say, ‘Here’s a piece of land, go and build a stadium’. There are highways, transport and connectivity issues. But it’s fair to say we are progressing due diligence on different sites.”
Mr Cartledge added: “We had dialogues with some of the junior officers (at the council), but nobody senior came forward. That’s important context for the fans to understand. We are not just sitting here in a black hole waiting and hoping. We are trying to be proactive.”
Current club chairman Mr Cartledge took over from Nicholas Randall KC late last year amid plans to drive the redevelopment forward. Work had initially been due to start in the summer of 2020, with the aim of a 15-month completion from start to finish.
But issues still remaining include the fact that the Britannia boathouse, next to the stadium, will need to be completely rebuilt before the Peter Taylor Stand work can begin. It is estimated the redevelopment will cost more than £94 million.
A spokesperson for Nottingham City Council said: “We’re proud of Nottingham Forest’s history as two-time winners of the European Cup, and we recognise the positive attention, visitors and income this has brought to the city over the past five decades.
“Getting promoted back to the Premier League in 2022, with the subsequent celebrations in Old Market Square, will live long in fans’ memories. We’re very lucky to have the successful sporting clubs we do in Nottingham, and so it’s disappointing to hear that Forest might be looking to relocate.
“The City Ground lease has been discussed for a long time now and it’s important to say again that the council remains committed to finding a solution which works for both parties. Unfortunately, we’ve had little back from the club recently by way of negotiation – this is highly unusual in a property transaction.
“We’ve been very clear with Forest that the council is legally bound by the need to seek best value for taxpayers – no local authority can subsidise a Premier League football club. We’re seeking market rate for the site, nothing more, which is in line with our statutory requirements.
“The council is ready to continue negotiations, but we can only do that if Forest come back with meaningful comparable evidence on their valuation of the site, which has been repeatedly requested. At present, we’ve simply been told what the club is not prepared to pay without a constructive way forward being proposed.”
On the pitch, Nuno Espírito Santo's side have two crucial Premier League games left in their quest for survival in the top flight. The Reds take on Chelsea in their last home game of the season at the City Ground on Saturday (May 11, 5.30pm KO).