Brighton and Hove Albion have unveiled a £55 million dream scheme to propel them into the Premier League.

A four-star hotel, new student accommodation and parking for the Amex could be built near the stadium in an ambitious scheme creating more than 200 new jobs.

If planning permission is granted, the club hopes the hotel will open its doors as early as September 2015 – in time for the Rugby World Cup.

The city’s council leader has backed the proposal, which is spearheaded by the Seagulls’ executive director Martin Perry.

Speaking exclusively to The Argus, Mr Perry said the project could set the Seagulls on a sound financial footing for years to come.

The three-storey hotel would be built on land to the east of the Amex.

It would cater for large conferences, weddings, visiting teams and their supporters, visitors to the nearby universities, and business executives on overnight stays.

Further down Lewes Road, a block housing up to 800 students and a multistorey car park for fans to use on match days would be built on the Bridge car park near Brighton Aldridge Community Academy.

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Mr Perry, who masterminded the £120 million Amex stadium, said the development would be a “fantastic boost for the club, the area and the whole city”.

He said: “We’re still at an early stage but this plan represents another huge inward investment into Brighton and Hove.

“Part of it is making sure the figures work, but we’re confident we can get this off the ground.

“Ultimately this is about building our revenue streams while helping to reduce the desperate demand on the housing stock in this city.”

The scheme is split into two parts – the hotel idea is separate from the car park and student block – and Mr Perry said one could “easily” go ahead without the other.

And he revealed major leisure operators had already shown “significant interest” in running the hotel.

Money earned from guests would also help the Seagulls comply with new Financial Fair Play rules which force clubs to pay players an agreed percentage of turnover.

Albion chief executive Paul Barber said the regulations meant Albion now needed to find new ways to raise funds without depending on cash from multimillionaire chairman Tony Bloom – or hard-pressed supporters.

He said: “The simple fact is we need to increase our revenue streams. Developing our banqueting and conferencing business through the hotel will allow us to do that.

“If you can offer hotel bedrooms you get two-day conferences, you get dinners.

You completely change the type of event on offer.

“But there is an important message from the football club – revenue generation doesn’t have to come out of fans’ pockets.

“They mustn’t think we are going to come after them for more money. Ultimately, there are only so many pies people can buy.”

Club bosses are hoping the hotel will open in time for the Rugby World Cup in September 2015, when two pool matches are due to be played at The Amex.

The student block is planned to be built by summer 2016, and would be a joint venture between the club and developers Development Securities and Fulbeck Land.

It would stand three storeys high with up to 800 bedrooms, while the car park would have 850 spaces, slightly more than currently available in the Bridge car park which it would replace.

To gain approval for each element of the scheme, planning officials have to be convinced it would have a positive impact on the area.

Currently, the hotel land is owned by Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) but straddles the border with Lewes District Council, so both authorities must give approval.

The Bridge car park – which used to be part of the old Falmer High School – is owned by BHCC.

At a meeting next Thursday, Brighton councillors will be asked to agree to start negotiations to lease their land to the club for the project - subject to planning permission.

Mr Perry acknowledged there was likely to be a “level of resistance” to the latest plans.

He said: “Of course some people will have a problem with it, and I understand that.

“But the hotel will be part of the existing site, and we’re planning to drop it into the ground slightly to reduce visibility.

“As for the student block and the car park, they would be hidden from view by woodland.

“So I really don’t think this should attract too much opposition.”

Another potential hurdle is the Bridge Community Education Centre next to the Bridge car park, which would need to be demolished for the scheme to go ahead.

But the club, which already contributes to the centre’s running costs, promised they would find a way to provide a “sustainable future” for the Bridge.

Hopes are also high that councillors will back the idea, with city leaders already expressing support.

Jason Kitcat, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said the scheme “could solve many problems” in the Falmer area.

He said: “It’s fair to say I am supportive of this idea, in principle.

“It just shows the success of the stadium for the city and is the next step in its development.

“To me, it looks like a scheme which completes unfinished business.

“Of course, there may be concerns locally and these will be duly considered at planning. We’re still at a very early stage.”