Stadium expansion plans 'threaten very existence' of Trentside rowing clubs

CLUB SECRETARY FEARS SURGE IN FANS WILL IMPACT BOAT LAUNCHES

- By OLIVER PRIDMORE

The Britannia Boathouse, seen to the right of the City Ground, was already set to be demolished

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, included 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 Nottingham Boat Club in 2006 to form the current Nottingham Rowing Club.