'The Amex Stadium is his legacy' Celebrated Albion lawyer Tony Allen dies

Tony Allen, the lawyer who led the team for the planning application for the development of the Amex Stadium, has died at the age of 76.
Tony AllenTony Allen
Tony Allen

Allen, who qualified in 1971, was a key part of Albion's history that helped to shape their future as a Premier League club.

He secured their temporary ground at the Withdean but the pinnacle of his career was of course the club's impressive Amex Stadium.

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As part of the DMH Stallard planning team, Allen began preparing the club's planning application in 2000 and submitted the application in October 2001.

In June 2002 the application was approved by the planning applications' sub-committee at Brighton & Hove City Council, but was called in by the Secretary of State for determination in September 2002.

Plans were reviewed after permission granted by John Prescott in October 2005 was overturned amid opposition from Lewes District Council, Falmer Parish Council and conservation groups.

Allen was a Legal Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and his many notable credits included Brighton’s award winning public library.

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As a partner of the law firm, DMH Stallard, Allen also established one of the country’s first multi-disciplinary planning practices, combining planning lawyers and chartered planners.

On learning of Allen's untimely death, Brighton & Hove Albion’s Martin Perry simply said, “The stadium is his legacy."

Tony, who lived in Rustington, is survived by his wife, Torill, and four children, Kim, Emma, Rachel and Henrik. Due to current restrictions, Tony’s funeral will be family only.