Plans to upgrade Selhurst Park at a cost of nearly £100 million have taken a step forward as Croydon Council officers recommended they be approved.

But Crystal Palace will have to pay for more than just an increase in stadium capacity if it wants to go ahead.

At a pre-planning meeting on January 25 it was revealed that six council houses on Wooderson Close would be demolished if the designs to increase the stadium's capacity from 26,000 to 34,000 were approved.

Now the same council officer that recommended the approval has said the football club must pay to re-house those people from Wooderson Close.

This would include the construction of a minimum of six homes in Croydon as well as moving costs and compensation to those families forced to leave.

"A planning obligation is required to ensure displaced tenants are rehoused and there is a clear requirement to provide replacement residential floorspace to replace that which is to be lost," the officer's report said.

"Officers are of the view that absolute clarity around the re-provision of housing lost to the development must be in place before the development of the new 'Main Stand' commences."

Unsurprisingly, a wide variety of groups ranging from the Met Police to the Premier League have had their say on the proposal that will be voted on at council's planning committee meeting next Thursday (April 19).

"Crystal Palace FC has a loyal and large following across South London and beyond and is an important part of London's football ecology," the Premier League wrote.

"Although generations of Palace fans have enjoyed attending Selhurst Park and it is justly famous for its atmosphere, the stadium fabric is increasingly outdated.

"Improved revenues from increased capacity will boost local spending on goods and services, for example in the hospitality, stewarding and other operational and supply chain sectors.

"However, the benefits are not just economic in nature.

"New fans can be encouraged to attend: facilities for the disabled can be provided at better quality and greater scale, family provision can be extended significantly and experience shows that increased capacities and modern facilities encourage communities and individuals with no background of attending football matches to get involved."

In total more than 4500 official comments were submitted during the planning process, with 4444 supporting the plans and just 84 objecting.

Of those who objected, transport and overcrowding was a main concern.

"If even half of the proposed supporters were to use their cars to travel to the ground, this would be an increase of around 4,000 vehicles into the area," a summary of the objections said.

"This would increase the traffic congestion on match-days to an amount not able to be managed by the current road network."

Despite the recommendation from the officer, council will still have to vote on whether the application be approved or not.

If the plans are green-lit, then all that would be left is for the Mayor of London to rubber stamp them.