Deadlock in 2001

A report to Brighton and Hove Council in 1996 identified 16 potential sites for a new home for the Albion. This field was narrowed down to five in 1998 and presented to the club for its preferred choice.

The five options were -

1. Village Way North, Falmer
2. Waterhall Valley
3. Shoreham Harbour
4. Brighton Station car park
5. Greyhound Stadium, Hove

Each site had to be measured against seven key criteria: availability, community benefits, environmental impact, fundability, planning acceptability, suitability and traffic implications.

Both the club and the ruling Labour group on the council preferred Falmer.

In 1999 the council called a referendum to test public opinion on proposals to build a new community stadium on land at Village Way North in Falmer.

The referendum asked two questions -

1. Do you support the council's policy of wanting Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club to find a permanent home within our area? YES/NO
2. Should the council (subject to due consideration of a planning application) support Brighton & Hove Albion's bid to find a permanent site at Falmer? YES/NO

The proposal got overwhelming support - 95 per cent voting yes to the Albion's return and 68 per cent Yes to Falmer. The council then included the site in its draft Local Plan, which sets out a blueprint for the city's future.

The Albion's main partners are Brighton and Hove Council and Brighton University, joint owners of the land earmarked for the new stadium at Village Way North.

After lengthy negotiations with the university broke down because of a dispute over finance for the site, the football club immediately proposed an alternative site just 200 metres away at Village Way South.

This site, which is owned by Brighton and Hove Council, was not included in the draft Local Plan and prompted immediate opposition from environmentalists, who argued it would be a greater eyesore in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

This deadlock prompted suggestions that the Albion should forget about building at Falmer and should look to alternative locations, such as Waterhall.

Located north of Patcham, Waterhall had previously been rejected because of environmental concerns and was regarded as an unsuitable location for a new community stadium.

All three suggested sites are inside the Sussex Downs area of outstanding natural beauty.

At a special council meeting on July 26, 2001 councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of a permanent move to Falmer.

Although the council reiterated Village Way North remains its preferred option, a large majority of councillors voted in favour of an amendment to include Village Way South in the Local Plan, enabling the club to pursue its Falmer dream even if the dispute with the University of Brighton could not be resolved.

The Albion welcomed the council vote as an encouraging step forward and on October 11 submitted TWO identical planning applications to build on EITHER Village Way North OR Village Way South.