Brighton can become pioneers in women’s football now that the team has received the go-ahead for a purpose-built stadium, according to a Labour councillor.

Brighton and Hove City Council gave the green light last month for the club to proceed with locating a site within the city for what is hoped will be an approximately 10,000-capacity ground for the Women’s Super League side.

The proposed new ground would be the first of its kind in the UK to have been designed and built specifically for use by a women’s team.

Albion’s women’s team currently plays home matches more than 30 miles away from the city at Crawley’s Broadfield Stadium.

Labour councillor John Hewitt, lead councillor for leisure and sport, said that the current arrangement is not sustainable if football in the city hopes to grow.

He said: “As good as Crawley are as hosts, the distance has an adverse effect. Plus, it doesn’t seem like our home ground, because the seats are red and we’re blue and white.

“The intention is to build around 10,000 capacity, which is a realistic number. The team get around 3,000 to 4,000 at Crawley, but there is the capacity for the club to grow in the coming years.

“It’s about the women’s game achieving parity with the men’s game. Women’s football is growing. Brighton hosted three games at the Euros last year and there were good attendances.

“It would be fantastic if we could be seen as pioneers for this - in years to come, this could be the norm.”

Albion are currently eighth in the Women’s Super League, having narrowly avoided relegation last season.

With the men’s side on the brink of progressing beyond the group stage in the Europa League on their debut run, Cllr Hewitt believes the situation is ripe for the women’s side to follow suit and play their part in reinforcing Brighton’s reputation as a football force.

He said: “The intention is for the club to finance it, but the council will be a key stakeholder in that.

“We’ll be looking at how best we can use the facility for the residents in the city.”