Albion's multimillion pound dream scheme moved a step closer last night after councillors agreed to open negotiations with the club.

Earlier this month Seagulls bosses unveiled ambitious plans to build a hotel, a multistorey car park and a student accommodation block near The Amex.

At a meeting in Hove Town Hall, councillors unanimously agreed to start talking to Albion about leasing land for the project.

All parties threwtheir support behind the idea – although the scheme would still need planning permission and another council vote to go ahead.

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Geoffrey Theobald, leader of the Conservative group, said the proposed development “makes sense for the club and makes sense for the city”.

Warren Morgan, leader of the Labour group, said “the business case is clear” but argued jobs and apprenticeships created by the scheme should go to young and unemployed people.

And Green councillor Bill Randall said the planned student accommodation block would help “relieve the pressure” on housing in the city.

Coun Randall said he had asked for assurances from club director Martin Perry about the future of the Bridge Centre, which would need to be demolished for the student block to go ahead.

He said: “Martin has told me there is no risk to the future of the Bridge. He is a man of his word and if he says that it’s good enough for me.”

Options are currently being explored for a future home for the community and education centre, should the scheme go ahead.

The scheme is split into two parts – with the hotel separate from the car park and student block.

If planning permission is granted, the club hopes the four star hotel built on land to the east of the Amex will open its doors as early as September 2015 – in time for the Rugby World Cup.

Further down Lewes Road, a block housing up to 800 students and a multi-storey car park for fans to use on match days would be built on the Bridge car park near Brighton Aldridge Community Academy.

Currently, the hotel land is owned by Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) but straddles the border with Lewes District Council, so both authorities must give planning approval for the scheme to go ahead.