A decision on the Premier League club's expanded stadium plans could be made in a few months
06:00, 05 Feb 2026
The City Ground on the bank of the River Trent in West Bridgford, Nottingham.
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The Britannia Boathouse, seen to the right of the City Ground, was already set to be demolished (Image: Joseph Raynor/Nottingham Post)
Nottingham Forest has been told that its latest plans for an expansion of the City Ground "threaten the very existence" of one of its neighbours.
The first major objection has been submitted to the new plans for the Premier League club's stadium, with a final decision possibly being made in a few months.
A significantly bigger stadium than originally envisioned is on the cards, taking capacity to more than 50,000 fans.
Neighbouring the stadium are several rowing club buildings and although one of the clubs has indicated support for the latest proposals from the Reds, another historic club has now objected.
Matthew Grocock, the secretary of the Nottingham Union and Rowing Club, has written: "The current proposals as set out in this application threaten the very existence of Nottingham and Union Rowing Club and the other clubs on Trentside both during the construction phase and beyond."
Forest's original plans, first unveiled in 2019, entailed the demolition of the Britannia Boathouse building to make way for a public plaza in front of a rebuilt Peter Taylor Stand.
The boathouse was built by what was once known as the Nottingham Britannia Club, before it merged with the Nottingham Boat Club in 2006 to form the current Nottingham Rowing Club.
Forest's latest plans, officially lodged with Rushcliffe Borough Council in December 2025, would now also see the Nottingham Rowing Club's building on the other side of the City Ground knocked down.
The affected building includes the site previously occupied by the Raymond Sims boat building company before the rowing club took the space on.
The three other rowing buildings along the riverside would remain and this included two buildings belonging to the Nottingham Union and Rowing Club.
Although the Nottingham Union and Rowing Club's buildings would remain, they say the stadium expansion will make their operations unviable.
Mr Grocock says: "It is not feasible to relocate one of the rowing clubs, but not the other, as they regularly share equipment, personnel and launch from the same areas.
"Nottingham and Union Rowing Club was originally established in 1862 and the rowing clubs have been on Trent side for over 150 years and are an important facet of the local community."
The main objection from the club is how the hoards of fans turning up to the City Ground will impact their operations, with Mr Grocock saying: "To use their premises effectively for sport, the rowing clubs and kayak club need to carry their boats from the boathouse down to the riverside for launching.
"That is extremely difficult when there are large numbers of people trying to access the football ground. Consequently when events are held at the football ground, rowing activities are effectively precluded for two hours before and after each event."
Yet Steve Battlemuch, a Nottingham city councillor and ardent Reds supporter, says the argument about the impact of match days ignores the fact that thousands of fans are turning up for games already.
Councillor Battlemuch said: "The expanded stadium is not going to mean 40-to-50 thousand fans turning up every day. It's going to be on match days.
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Senior Nottingham City Councillor Steve Battlemuch outside the City Ground
"I think the overwhelming view is that there's a lot of support for an expanded stadium because of the economic development it will be bring to the city in terms of jobs, not just in the initial construction phase but in hospitality as well.
"You've got Forest fans growing up now who just cannot get to see their local team. This will open up new avenues for them to go and see their club.
"I can understand anybody wanting their five minutes of fame to object, but I think sometimes you have to go with the overwhelming view."
Yet the key argument from the rowing club is that the extra capacity and the extra events that will be held at the City Ground, alongside matches, will make current issues even worse.
Mr Grocock says: "On event days it will be necessary to close Trentside for longer and restricting access to the rowing club preventing rowing activities at these times and precluding access for parking and parents dropping off."
Overall though, with Rushcliffe Borough Council's planning committee meeting potentially taking place in a few months, Mr Grocock said: "A private agreement with just one of the rowing clubs on Trentside goes nowhere to securing the future of existing sports carried on out of facilities adjacent to Trent Bridge.
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"We would much prefer as a club to be able to support the proposals wholeheartedly. We formally request that our club is included in any discussions regarding relocation." Nottingham Forest has been approached for further comment.
Councillor Battlemuch added: "We've just got to hope that objections can be talked through and compromises can be made and that the planning committee at Rushcliffe in April or May can then get on and support it."