Nottingham agrees to City Ground sale

Nottingham City Council has agreed to make the land on which the City Ground, where Nottingham Forest’s stadium is located available for sale.

Yesterday, at an executive board meeting members agreed to put the freehold of the site up for sale.

The council had previously proposed an increase in rent from a reported £250,000 to around £1m per year, which had led to speculation that the club could leave the City Ground and build its own stadium.

The proposed sale would provide Nottingham with a “significant capital receipt in 2023-24 but also result in a significant revenue loss”. The council issued a section 114 notice in November, citing a general fund pressure of £57m.

As per council the appointment of external specialists to advise on the disposal was key to meeting its best value consideration obligations and completing the sale in “a timely manner”.

Nottingham Forest has occupied the site since the late 1800s and according to council papers to “ensure continued and successful occupation, a significant development of the site is required”. However, the sale of the land would allow the club to facilitate the redevelopment of the site which would enable it to “invest and improve” the ground to the benefit of the local area.