Brighton and Hove Albion have taken the next steps towards creating extra match-day parking in Falmer.
The club wants to use the site of the old Falmer High School for hundreds of new parking spaces.
The site became vacant when pupils and staff moved to the new Brighton Aldridge Community Academy on neighbouring land.
The club wants to create the extra parking at the same time as it expands the seating capacity at the Amex Community Stadium from 23,000 to 31,000.
But Brighton and Hove City Council believes that the land is ideal for student housing. It estimates that 880 homes could be provided there.
The council also had concerns that extra parking would mean fewer fans using public transport to reach the ground.
It commissioned an independent report, paid for by the club, to look at transport to and from games.
The report found that more than two thirds of fans already travel to matches on foot or by bike, bus or train.
Despite this the club is to bring back transport vouchers to encourage even more fans who currently drive to use the bus or train.
Today the club and the council released a joint statement.
Council leader Bill Randall and Albion chief executive Martin Perry said: “The city council and the football club welcome the findings of an independent report into transport issues connected with the possible provision of extra seating at the American Express Community Stadium and the use of land next to Falmer Academy (referred to as the Released Land) for parking.
“The report has identified some of the key issues to be considered. For example, helping us to better understand how well travel arrangements for the stadium are currently working and how these could be improved if further seating were to be approved.
“It also addressed some specific issues including the need for the Released Land for parking, and ways in which parking in nearby residential areas could be tackled.
“We would like to thank the stadium Travel Management Group for their valuable input and comments on the report.
“We have also taken into account the results of discussions with other key partners, such as the Highways Agency and public transport operators, who are responsible for the transport network and services.
“Council officers will continue to work together with club officials to ensure that travel arrangements to manage the proposed increase in supporters, minimise the effects on local residents and other journeys while enabling supporters to reach and leave the club quickly and safely.
“Over 68 per cent of supporters travel to the Amex Stadium by sustainable means and the club is confident that if the application for the additional capacity is approved, supporters will continue to travel to the stadium in a sustainable way.”
