The hard work to build Brighton and Hove Albion's new £50 million stadium starts on Monday.

John Prescott approved all four planning applications but it will be at least a year before work begins on site at Village Way, Falmer.

Albion chief executive Martin Perry said: "The good news is we have permission. The bad news is we have an awful lot of hard work to do now."

John Prescott rejected the advice of inspector John Collyer, who presided over the first public inquiry. Mr Collyer ripped apart almost every claim made in support of a Falmer stadium.

He told Mr Prescott the stadium would be conspicuous and unwelcome.

It failed any test of need and would be a massive blot on the landscape, blighting the entire South Downs, in his opinion.

Fortunately the Deputy Prime Minister accepted the view of the second planning inspector, David Brier.

Mr Brier wrote: "I am not satisfied that it has been demonstrated that any of the locations under consideration are sufficiently advantageous that they represent feasible, practical and realistic alternatives that should be preferred to Falmer.

"There are site specific issues relating to each one of the sites that lead me to conclude that, at present, there is no reasonable prospect of planning permission being granted for a community stadium at any of them."

Mr Prescott agreed that development at Falmer is harmful to the landscape but concluded that was outweighed by the social and economic benefits of the new stadium.

Mr Perry said: "He agreed there are impacts to building at Falmer but these are outweighed by the benefits which the development will bring to one of the most deprived areas in the county."

Mr Brier also found Falmer to be the only site that could deliver a sustainable public transport package and limit use of the car.

The Secretary of State imposed 89 conditions on planning consent.

They include proper landscaping of the site and making arrangements for bicycles.

The club must seek separate planning permission for floodlighting and water drainage systems. Parking arrangements must be finalised and the site must be inspected by archaeologists.

Many of the other conditions relate to noise limitations and the use of the stadium for other purposes such as rock concerts.

A new footbridge across the railway line at Falmer station must be built to accommodate fans and arrangements to alter the A27 slip road must now be finalised.

The club also has to approve travel management plans and stewarding arrangements.

Planning permission is conditional upon the establishment of a study support centre, creche, educational sports science and medicine facilities and a skills training centre at the stadium.

Mr Perry said it would all take time but he was not worried about any of the conditions.

He added: "There is nothing in there we did not expect to have to deal with."

Perhaps the biggest job will be to find funding for the 22,000-seat arena.

Mr Perry said: "This planning permission is like the golden ticket. East Brighton is a very deprived area that benefits from grant assistance from various Government and European bodies.

"Now we can go to those bodies, and also organisations like the Football Foundation, and say we've got our permission, now give us some money."

The club aims to raise just over half the stadium cost through corporate sponsorship, grants, sale of assets and private investment. It plans to borrow the remaining £25 million via a mortgage, to be paid off by gate receipts at a rate of £1.9 million a year.

That works out as about 20 per cent of the club's estimated annual turnover on £9.7, based on an average attendance of 12,000 at Falmer.

Seagulls chairman Dick Knight said: "Our business case has been thoroughly scrutinised and is sound. We have been very conservative in our estimate of 12,000 spectators I think.

"If we can get 6,500 in at Withdean we are very confident we can get at least 12,000 every week at Falmer."

Mr Perry revealed arrangements for the transfer of land from the University of Brighton were progressing.

He said: "Our deal with the university depended on all four applications being passed, particularly the two which related to the widening of Village Way.

"If we had not got them we could have been in real trouble. But I have spoken to the new vice-chancellor and he is very happy for us and we will get down to business straight away."

The club aims to open the stadium at the start of the 2008-09 season.