Nottingham Forest
The owner of Nottingham Forest, billionaire Evangelos Marinakis, has made a personal request concerning a modification at the City Ground before its major redevelopment. Marinakis, who acquired the club in 2017, is seeking approval to install a new private lift to his viewing gallery as part of a multi-million project aimed at increasing the stadium’s capacity significantly. This request was disclosed through planning documents submitted to Rushcliffe Borough Council.
According to these documents, the connection to the owner’s viewing gallery through the new lift is meant to be temporary. The lift will eventually be replaced once the Peter Taylor Stand undergoes redevelopment as part of the City Ground’s planned overhaul. Planning agents working for Mr. Marinakis clarified this point, stating:
IBA Planning said, “Planning permission will afford the owner the private access to the owner’s lounge he has requested until the redevelopment of the Peter Taylor Main Stand is underway.”
They also described the new external lift shaft as “very modest,” pointing out that it will connect only to the owner’s lounge on the first-floor level, ensuring that fans can still access the stadium concourse beneath it. The planning agents further elaborated that the private lift would need to be ready by the end of the 25/26 season, as detailed in the planning documents.
The architects provided additional context: “Owing to the modest footprint and design, the proposed development is considered to be in keeping with the immediate built environment – and will not be prominent or visible from wider public vantage points beyond the boundaries of the site.” They emphasized that “There is no increase in seating or capacity, and therefore no parking or highways implications.”
The planning application is currently pending consideration by Rushcliffe Borough Council. The redevelopment project at the City Ground, which has experienced several delays, aims to increase the stadium’s capacity to 42,000. Discussions are ongoing to resolve outstanding issues, including how to accommodate supporters during the Peter Taylor Stand’s redevelopment, a matter which was highlighted in a recent meeting with fans.
