Brighton and Hove Albion have submitted formal planning permission for a 60-metre heritage display on the Amex Stadium concourse.
The feature is designed to replace thousands of commemorative supporter tiles outside the West Stand because the original stones have deteriorated.
The application was lodged by stadium operating company The Community Stadium Limited under reference BH2026/01983.
The proposal sets out designs for a free-standing structure running along the West Stand concourse, one of the busiest supporter walkways at the Amex on matchdays.
It marks the club’s formal response to a pledge made earlier this year to permanently rehouse the tiles outdoors rather than move them to a digital format.
Albion say the scheme replaces tiles that have suffered weather damage over time, though the club has not detailed how or when that damage occurred.
Primary Source Details from The Community Stadium Limited
According to the planning application, the display consists of nine masonry walls, each approximately 2.7 metres high and 5.4 metres wide, fixed directly to the concrete concourse outside the West Stand.
The Community Stadium Limited, which operates the stadium on Albion’s behalf, submitted a full planning statement alongside the application setting out the case for approval.
That statement explains why the club considers the current section of concourse in need of improvement, before addressing how the proposal sits within the wider planning framework.
“Broadly it is considered that this proposal will uplift this part of the concourse which is underutilised with little visual appeal by provision of a permanent piece of artwork,” the application states.”
The statement also addresses the scale of the works. “This proposal will not be visible outside of the stadium concourse and therefore does not give rise to any wider amenity, design or any other material planning consideration,” it adds.
The submission does not set out a start date for construction, and the club has not commented further beyond the application documents themselves. Full details of the filing were first set out in reporting by The Argus.
Stadium and Supporter Impact at the Amex
The row began in December, when Albion told supporters of plans to remove the physical tiles altogether and replace them with a digital wall inside the concourse.
The announcement drew immediate criticism from fans, many of whom had bought tiles to commemorate friends and family connected to the club, and an emergency petition opposing the change quickly gathered more than 3,000 signatures.
Chief executive Paul Barber subsequently apologised without reservation. “We got this wrong, we are sorry for the upset and distress we have caused, and we will put it right,” he said.
Barber acknowledged the personal weight the tiles carry for many supporters. “We recognise that for many fans these tiles represent deeply personal and poignant memories of loved ones who are no longer with us,” he said.
He then committed the club to a permanent physical solution. “We will ensure every single tile is replicated, protected from the elements, and placed in a dignified, permanent outdoor setting,” Barber added.
That pledge, issued in the wake of the backlash, underpins the scheme now submitted for planning approval.
Thousands of supporters pass through the West Stand concourse on matchdays, including matchday visitors to the Amex for Albion’s home fixtures this season.
The club has not confirmed any changes to matchday access as the works progress through the planning process.
Public Consultation Timeline and Next Steps
Public consultation on application BH2026/01983 is open until October 12, giving supporters and other interested parties the opportunity to view the submitted drawings and planning statement before a decision is made.
Albion have not indicated a construction start date or completion timeline beyond the consultation window, and no date for a council decision has been confirmed.
The club has also not commented on whether the timber and stone previously used for the tiles will feature in the new masonry walls.
Off the pitch, attention will also turn to Albion’s continued involvement in Europe this season, with an upcoming European play-off adding to the number of supporters expected to pass through the Amex concourse in the coming weeks.
Any further update on the heritage wall scheme, including the outcome of the consultation, is expected once the council reaches a decision on the application.
