Forest confirms 'significant' £1.9 million investment ahead of five-week closure

The Forest Recreation Ground site will partially reopen in the summer before a full reopening later in the year

Nottingham Forest has announced a major £1.9 million redevelopment at the historic site of its original home ahead of a five-week closure.

The club’s official charity is embarking on a major programme of upgrades at the Forest Sports Zone, located at the Forest Recreation Ground, where the Reds originally played before eventually moving to the City Ground in 1898.

The Forest Sports Zone opened in 2015 as a space to bring together grassroots football teams, holiday clubs and well-being programmes – with the site now welcoming more than 2,000 people a week.

The site will be closed for five weeks from Monday (May 18) and a partial reopening is then planned for the summer of 2026, with a full site reopening following in the autumn.

Calum Osborne, the chief executive of the Nottingham Forest Community Trust, said: “This significant investment will ensure the Forest Sports Zone continues to provide high-quality, accessible facilities for local people.

“The site also holds a special connection to Nottingham Forest’s heritage, as the club’s original home, helping to maintain a presence in the heart of the city while delivering real benefits for the community, now and for years to come.”

The redevelopment will involve both of the site’s existing pitches upgraded, with the 3G pitch being resurfaced and the sand-based pitch undergoing a full reconstruction.

The changing room will also be extended to include a new two-storey entrance and there will be expanded office and community space.

The project is being funded with £625,000 from the trust, £1 million from the Football Foundation and the remaining balance from Nottingham City Council.

Councillor Sam Lux, from Nottingham City Council: “These improvements will make a real difference for the local players, clubs, schools and the wider community, providing high-quality facilities that everyone can be proud of.

“The partnership behind this project shows what can be achieved when organisations work together for the benefit of Nottingham residents, and I’m excited to see the upgraded site take shape.”