Following the milestone vote for Brighton and Hove Albion's proposed stadium at Falmer, the wheels of bureaucracy began to turn yesterday.

Officers from the city council started gathering the reams of documents required for the next stage of the process.

They must notify the Government Office for the South East of their decision and provide them with copies of the application.

They must give samples of written arguments for and against the stadium, the council's planning report and conditions and the comments of bodies such as the Highways Agency and English Heritage.

The First Secretary of State, John Prescott, then has 21 days to decide whether to call a public inquiry.

If he is convinced by the arguments already put in favour of the Falmer site, he may take no action and the Albion can press ahead with their plans.

However, if he opts for an inquiry, it is unlikely to start before December.

The hearing, which would probably be heard in Brighton or Hove town halls, could take several months.

In the meantime, the Albion has to comply with 34 amendments to its original plans.

These include ensuring proper public transport to the stadium and solving traffic problems on the road to Woodingdean.

It also has to come to an agreement with Sussex and Brighton Universities over parking arrangements.

Albion chief executive Martin Perry is confident of a decision by Mr Prescott in four to six weeks.

He said: "Whatever happens, the very earliest we could start construction would be the middle of next year.

"In the meantime, what will be going on is a great deal of hard work and a detailed design phase.

"There is still a long way to go but what I would say to fans is, in the words of Micky Adams, 'Keep the faith'."

Paul Samrah, chairman of the Falmer for All group that has campaigned in favour of the site, said he was delighted to have reached this significant "first base".

He said: "We are hoping for a swift decision on whether the application is to be called in for an inquiry - and it is by no means certain that it will be. Arsenal's application, which was also controversial, was not."

If a public inquiry goes ahead, and assuming it finds swiftly in favour of the club and the council, the Albion believe the first phase of the 22,000-seater stadium could be up and running by 2004/5.

However, if funding proves to be a problem, it could take up to ten years to complete.

There is also the matter of objectors who are not yet ready to throw in the towel.

Richard Reed, chairman of the Society of Sussex Downsmen, said they were disappointed by Wednesday's decision but ready to fight on.

He said: "We still think the search should be continued for alternative sites."

He would be lodging the society's complaints with the Government Office in the next few days.

He said: "We want to see a stadium on a site that is right for Brighton and not so damaging to the environment."

The proposed stadium at Village Way North would host 30 League matches a year and accommodate other sporting events and concerts.

The controversial application was passed in principle 11-1 after a three-hour meeting of the city planning committee on Wednesday night.

A council spokesman said it hoped a public inquiry would not be necessary as time was of the essence for the club.

He said: "But if it did come to an inquiry, the council would put across its views in favour of the scheme as strongly as possible alongside the club."