Brighton Amex stadium given approval for extra seating

Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club moved into the new Amex stadium last July

An extra 8,250 seats are to be added to Brighton and Hove Albion's new Amex stadium after its planning application was approved by councillors.

The football club moved into the £93m stadium at Falmer last July.

It currently has a capacity of 22,500 seats, and plans to increase the seating in two phases.

Phase one will see an extra 5,000 seats ready for the start of next season, with 500 more in December. The rest of the seats will be installed in 2013.

Brighton and Hove Albion said it had already begun to contact fans on the waiting list, offering them the chance to purchase season tickets for the 2012-13 season.

Permission was also given to use the retained land at Falmer for match-day car parking.