Nottinghamshire’s Conservative MPs write letter criticising Labour run Nottingham City Council over dispute with Nottingham Forest on City Ground lease

A dispute over the lease of Nottingham Forest’s home stadium has drawn the attention of MPs from across the county.

In a joint letter, all eight of Nottinghamshire’s Conservative MPs have written to the leader of Nottingham City Council, David Mellen, to express concern over a dispute about the Premier League football club’s City Ground.

Forest’s home ground, where they have played since 1898, is in West Bridgford, which technically falls within Rushcliffe.

However, the land on which the City Ground stands is owned by Nottingham City Council and rented to the club on a long term lease — with 33 years left on the lease.

The group of MPs claim the council is ‘destabilising’ one of the region’s oldest institutions due to delays in allowing the club to either extend the lease or purchase the land freehold.

Nottingham Forest received planning permission to upgrade the ageing stadium in 2022, but a delay in negotiations over the lease could affect future work.

The MPs also criticised previous financial projects that the Labour run authority had been involved with.

In full, the letter reads:

“As Nottinghamshire MPs, we are very concerned to hear of the dispute between Nottingham Forest and Nottingham City Council.

“After the fiascos of Broadmarsh, Robin Hood Energy and Nottingham Castle, as well as the overall financial black hole, we are deeply concerned that the council is sleepwalking into another disaster.

“As you will know, although Forest play in Rushcliffe, the land on which the City Ground stands is owned by the city council and rented to the club on a long term lease.

“This lease has 33 years left to run. We understand that the club has been trying to negotiate with the council to either purchase the freehold or extend the lease but that they have been met with endless procrastination and terms that are not realistic.

“The club provides significant economic, social and community value to the surrounding areas and to the city centre. The club's owner, Mr Marinakis, has made a huge private investment into Forest which has enabled them to make a return to the Premier League. This has created massive social and economic return for the city and has boosted businesses, community groups and local sports teams across the entire area.

“Why is the council destabilising one of the city's biggest assets?

“The club has now been trying to renegotiate with the council for five years and has met with dither, obfuscation, and delay.

“Calling into question, for the first time, whether Forest should continue at the ground which has been their home since 1898. You may not be aware, but the council's actions are also delaying Forest’s plans to expand and redevelop the City Ground.

“Forest matters to the whole of our county and these negotiations have drifted for far too long. We ask you to step in immediately and now lead these negotiations to a swift conclusion.

“Both we and the club understand the transformative power sport can have on people's lives and the importance of sport to a thriving economy.

“It shouldn't take the county's MPs to have to remind you of this.

“We look forward to your reply.”

The letter was signed by Newark MP Robert Jenrick, along with Sherwood MP, Mark Spencer; Mansfield MP, Ben Bradley; Rushcliffe MP, Ruth Edwards; Gedling MP, Tom Randall; Bassetlaw MP, Brendan Clarke-Smith; Ashfield MP, Lee Anderson; and Broxtowe MP, Darren Henry.