Nottingham Forest eyes up training ground plan

Replacement facilities are being lined up for Nottingham Forest’s academy teams, after the club admitted its existing West Bridgford set up was “not befitting” of the club’s Premier League status.

The club was granted permission to replace the changing rooms at its Gresham Close academy site in 2020, but the new facilities were never built, as the club considered its options over the long-term development of the site.

Now, the club says the need for improved facilities has become “even more pressing”, and has applied to Rushcliffe Borough Council for permission to build a temporary block for the club’s academy while it works up a permanent solution.

The two-storey facility, set to be supplied by temporary structure specialist Mar-Key, would provide replacement changing facilities on the ground floor, with classrooms and offices planned for the rooms above.

“The existing changing rooms have further deteriorated in condition – and are not befitting of the club’s Premier League status, or their ambitions to attract the best of available young talent as is considered essential to provide a long-term and sustainable supply of players for the future,” said a planning statement supplied with the application.

“Whilst the club continues to develop their long-term vision and strategy for the training ground site, an interim option has been developed with a view to providing an enhanced level of facility for its academy players – whilst also helping to secure an improvement to the management of existing site users.

“The revised arrangement will ensure that the facility can continue to operate to a high-level befitting of a Premier League Tier I Academy – whilst permanent plans remain under development.”

As part of the plans, existing classroom and office spaces within the main academy building on the site will be re-purposed to provide a reception and waiting area, which the club says is essential for safeguarding. Parents are currently using the players canteen as a makeshift waiting space.

The club added that the improvements were not intended to intensify use at the site, but would bring the facilities up to the required standards for elite Premier League academies.

Documents and plans relating to the scheme can be found on Rushcliffe Borough Council’s planning portal using reference: 26/00273/FUL