Nottingham Forest's stadium redevelopment plans could lead to parking permits on two busy roads in West Bridgford. Under the plans, which were approved by Rushcliffe Borough Council's planning committee on Thursday, July 28, permits are being proposed for Fox Road and Radcliffe Road in West Bridgford.
The club will be rebuilding the Peter Taylor Stand, increasing it to a capacity of 10,000 seats, up from its current 5,000. Crucially, the detailed plans also outlines a planning application for up to 170 residential units in a 13-storey apartment block. This has raised questions surrounding parking around the ground and a potential increase in vehicles.
As a result, the application deems that, to stop future residents using adjoining streets to park their car, a permit scheme will be introduced around the ground on those roads which are currently not permitted.
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The meeting in Rushcliffe Arena was told: "The parking ratio is well below what is normally accepted by the county council, the idea is to mitigate by permit parking. Now, permit parking would stop future residents of the residential block parking on any adjoining street, so that would mean additional permit parking for Fox Road and Radcliffe Road, in addition to what is already permitted.
"So it's essentially extending the permit area around that location site so that people who do have cars don't park on existing spaces in front of people's houses, is the idea of that.
Cllr Neil Clarke, who sits on Rushcliffe Borough Council's planning committee, said: "The parking permits - do I hear you correctly that you are including Radcliffe Road for parking permits? That has an immediate impact on the businesses and on people stopping and trading on the businesses along Radcliffe Road."
In response, the councillor was told: "Yeah, that's correct councillor and that's purely on the request of the highway authority." Asked if he wanted to come back and respond, Cllr Clarke replied: "I better not, I think chairman. I might have words in another occasion."
A document submitted to the council reads: "In terms of the proposed residential element (including the commercial units), it is considered that Traffic Regulations Orders are required on Fox Road/Radcliffe Road in order to manage overflow car parking from the proposed residential development and residential parking permit which would ensure that on-street parking along the streets closest to the application site are only used by local residents. The applicant agrees to the contributions totalling £80,000."
As part of the plans, the nearby Boat Room, located on the banks of the River Trent and used by Nottingham Rowing Club, will be demolished. However, as an asset of community value, it will be replaced - the club was supportive of Nottingham Forest's redevelopment plans. No site has yet been earmarked for future development.
Economic estimates suggest the redevelopment could pump £804 million into the city by 2034, as well as creating 360 full-time jobs. Demolition work is now set to start next summer, with the intention to complete the rebuilding by the end of the 2023/24 season.
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