Nottingham Forest's £790m expansion of the City Ground is prompting a backlash from local residents who could face new costs. The club has secured planning permission to increase the stadium's capacity from 31,000 to 52,000.
As part of the agreement, Forest will contribute £4.17m towards improving surrounding travel and transport infrastructure. This includes £424,900 for walking and cycling routes and £990,000 for a new controlled parking zone.
The new parking zone will cover street parking within a 25-minute walk of the stadium, impacting approximately 4,800 spaces. However, Rushcliffe Borough Council's planning committee did not require Forest to fund residents' permits, meaning locals will likely need to pay for them.
The council confirmed that the £990,000 contribution does not include provision for parking permits. Forest declined to comment, with sources stating the club would make a significant financial contribution and it was up to the county council to determine its allocation.
Phase one of the project involves demolishing and rebuilding the Peter Taylor Stand and upgrading the Trent End. Phase two, which is not yet fully ratified, will redevelop the Brian Clough Stand. An official start date for the £790m project has not been confirmed.