Nottingham Forest's owner plans personal City Ground change ahead of major redevelopment

The club's planners have described the temporary changes as 'very modest'

Nottingham Forest's owner has made a personal request for a change to be made to the City Ground before itsmajor redevelopment. Billionaire Evangelos Marinakis, who bought the Reds in 2017, has asked for permission to make a change to the club's ground ahead of a multi-million project to significantly increase its capacity.

The Greek shipping magnate, 57, has requested a new private lift be installed to take him to his viewing gallery, according to planning documents recently submitted to Rushcliffe Borough Council. Planning agents for Mr Marinakis have explained the connection to the owner's viewing gallery would only be temporary, with it being replaced when the Peter Taylor Stand is redeveloped as part of the planned City Ground overhaul.

Architects 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 added the new external lift shaft was "very modest" and would connect to the owner’s lounge at first-floor level only so that fans can continue to access the stadium concourse beneath it.

The addition would be needed for the end of the 25/26 season in particular, the club's planners explained. Planning documents outlined the private lift would be accessed from the ground-level concourse and would require an existing media suite to be rearranged.

The structure will be clad in red to fit in with the club's colours, helping it fit in with the rest of the stadium. Further arguing the club's case, architects added: "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.

"There is no increase in seating or capacity, and therefore no parking or highways implications." The planning application is pending consideration by Rushcliffe Borough Council. The long-awaited redevelopment of the City Ground has faced a number of delays, which included a row with Nottingham City Council over rental payments and a subsequent idea to move away from the River Trent-side stadium.

Planning permission has been given for the huge project, which would raise the ground's capacity to 42,000, but the club is still ironing out some remaining issues. It recently revealed it was considering buying nearby properties to streamline the development, after agreeing a deal in principle to buy the ground's land from the city council following the earlier rent row between the two parties.

Discussions are ongoing regarding the relocation of supporters if the Peter Taylor Stand closes for redevelopment, according to a recent meeting with fans. The club is also exploring options to minimise disruption, and whether it would be possible to have the lower tier of seating operational before the full completion of the stand.