River view at the Cottage!

Fulham's new £70 million stadium on the site of Craven Cottage has been given the go-ahead by local planners.

The recommendation for planning approval by planning officers at Hammersmith and Fulham Council means the club could be playing in the 30,000-seater ground by the 2003-4 season.

Councillors have to back their decision at a meeting next Tuesday but the majority Labour contingent on the planning committee are thought to be behind the scheme. Local residents oppose the plan but in recent years only a handful of proposals have been thrown out by the council after being recommended for approval by the planning department.

However, John Prescott, the Secretary of State for the environment, transport and the regions, could still order a public inquiry because of the significant number of residents against the plan or because of the size of the scheme. A public inquiry would delay the project. That is what happened at Chelsea, where one public inquiry over the West Stand development lasted 13 months.

Fulham managing director Michael Fiddy said today: "We are very pleased the council's officers have come to this decision and await the decision of councillors at the meeting next week." The planning department's recommendation for approval includes at least 35 conditions - which could cost the club an additional £1m.

One of the most significant is the restriction that the stadium only holds football and community events and cannot allow more than 150 people at any event on non-matchdays. A statement from the council said: "Officers have carefully considered the issues raised by objectors and reached the clear conclusion that the key benefits of the proposal outweigh its harms. "The very high quality of the new buildings and the advice of English Heritage weigh heavily in this balance."

If Fulham's plans clear the remaining hurdles they will still play at Craven Cottage next season. If, as seems likely, they are promoted, they will be the only club in the Premier-ship with terracing. They would spend the following season groundsharing with another London club.