The ecologists tasked with carrying out the environment impact assessment which will be submitted as part of the planning proposals for the redevelopment of The City Ground have been revealed as Derby based firm, RammSanderson. (but don’t fear the Director involved is a lifelong Forest fan.)
The planning application was submitted to Rushcliffe Borough Council on 29 November and outlines a multi-million pound proposal to redevelop the City ground to increase capacity to 38,000 by demolishing the Peter Taylor Stand and other surrounding buildings.
The opportunity for RammSanderson to get involved in the City Ground project happened as a result of works the company had carried out for another building company which involved overseeing the re-siting of a badger sett on land adjacent to the Forest training ground. These works required consultations with the Head of Estates for Nottingham Forest who remembered the company and invited them to be part of the team tasked with preparing the planning application to redevelop the City Ground.
RammSanderson Director, Nick Sanderson, who is a life-long Forest fan carried out the assessment. Commenting he said, “It was great that Forest remembered the work and invited us to be involved in helping to assess the impact the stadium redevelopment might have on wildlife and habitats. We did a very thorough assessment and our impartial findings will now help planners decide whether to grant permission.”
Nick added ” Whilst it is exciting to be able to look forward to re-shaping the City Ground to meet the ambitions of the club and its supporters, we have to be mindful of our responsibility to the environment around us. RammSanderson demonstrated a great deal of care and attention and carried out the environmental impact assessment in a highly professional manner, whilst also offering advice on how Nottingham Forest needed to preserve habitats.”
RammSanderson has been working alongside Architects and master planners Benoy and property and land agents Savills.