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Planning officers have recommended the re-approval of Nottingham Forest FC鈥檚 plans to expand its stadium and build homes nearby, three years after they were first given the green light.

The football club first submitted proposals, designed by Benoy, for the redevelopment of the City Ground in November 2019, when it sought full permission for one of the stands and outline permission for 250 homes.

Consultation and negotiation led to a reduction in the form and number of homes, to around 170, along with other adjustments, which were presented to the planning committee in July 2022.

These plans were given conditional approval and planning officers have since worked with the club and other stakeholders to finalise a section 106 agreement, which is now 鈥済enerally agreed鈥�.

However, an officer report released ahead of Rushcliffe Borough Council鈥檚 planning committee on 26 June (Thursday) said that 鈥済iven the extended passage of time鈥� since the original decision it was 鈥渃onsidered necessary in the interests of sound decision making and in accordance with principles of law鈥� for the committee to consider it afresh.

It said the National Planning Policy Framework had been updated in the intervening period, as well as a number of other policy changes. Officers recommended the scheme for approval.

The proposals would see the demolition of the existing Peter Taylor Stand, which is named after the assistant to manager Brian Clough during the club鈥檚 European Cup winning years in 1979 and 1980.

After a successful season on the pitch last year, Forest qualified for European competition for the first time in 30 seasons.

The Peter Taylor Stand will be replaced with a new stand, which was designed by architect Benoy and will have a capacity of 10,000 on its own.

This would increase the capacity of the existing stadium as a whole to more than 35,000, taking it towards the club owner Evangelos Marinakis鈥� stated goal of bringing capacity of the City Ground to 50,000 seats.

Nottingham Forest and Rushcliffe Borough Council have issued a joint statement on the club鈥檚 planning application on the redevelopment of the City Ground.

鈥淣ottingham Forest has been in regular dialogue with Rushcliffe Borough Council, Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council regarding the redevelopment of the City Ground,鈥� it said.

鈥淭he parties can confirm they are working towards the Rushcliffe Borough Council Planning Committee date of Thursday 26 June to consider the application. There will be no further comment other than as required by the relevant legal process.鈥�

Contractor Buckingham had originally been slated to build the new stand, but the business went into administration in September 2023.