Brighton and Hove councillors have given their overwhelming backing to a new Albion community stadium at Falmer.

The controversial application for a stadium at Village Way North was passed in principle 11-1 after a three-hour meeting of the city planning committee at Hove Town Hall last night.

Scores of fans and opponents of the scheme attended and an overflow room was provided.

There were scenes of jubilation from the supporters as councillors delivered their verdict one by one in a recorded vote.

Only Tory councillor David Smith - a former Albion player - voted against because he felt not all the questions about the application had been answered.

Supporters and opponents of the 22,000 capacity stadium were each given half an hour to state their views to the committee.

Approval will not be formally issued until a complicated legal agreement has been signed by the club.

It is also likely the scheme will be called in for a public inquiry by the Government later this year.

Last night's approval in principle means the club is well on the way to achieving a permanent home to replace the temporary stadium at Withdean.

However, the stadium will be built in four phases and could take ten years to complete.

In addition to hosting 30 League football matches a year, the stadium could play host to other national sporting events and concerts.

Martin Perry, Albion's chief executive, said: "This is an historic day and a great step forward."

Hilary Leigh, for the Society of Sussex Downsmen, said campaigners would now press for the application to be subject to an inquiry.

If that happens, it could last several weeks and the outcome is highly uncertain.

Albion will press forward at high speed in the hope that the stadium could be up and running by 2004/5.