The stadium, which is home to Fulham Football Club (FFC), currently accommodates 25,700 people but the approved plans proposed to increase the capacity to 30,000 seats.
The planning consent would allow the FFC to demolish part of the western ends of the Putney and Hammersmith stands and rebuild them to include 4,300 new seats. Under the plans a new "upper tier" of seats would be built that are planned to follow the shape of the existing stands.
The plans include the building of new hospitality space, a new riverside facade, a new roof and four residential units. However there are various planning conditions attached to the planning permission for the Riverside Stand, which is nearest to the Thames, the Council said.
Under the agreement between the Council and FFC the Club has agreed to make a £600,000 contribution for the restoration of Bishops Park, plus an annual contribution of £40,000 per year for 10 years for on-going maintenance of the Park. It has also agreed to pay £60,000 to install heritage gates at the Stevenage Road entrance to Bishops Park. The riverside walk along the Thames will be opened up on non-match days.
FFC has also agreed to make a series of payments to improve the signage in the area and to improve CCTV and pedestrian and road safety measures as part of the planning agreement. The club will also continue to provide stewards to manage the crowds outside the ground and additional street cleaning on match days.
"Craven Cottage is the historic home of Fulham Football Club and this modest expansion, which will be carried out in a sensitive and sensible way, will allow the club to remain competitive in the top tier of English football while removing the existing, rather ugly, Riverside Stand," said Councillor Nicholas Botterill, leader of the Council. "Our residents will also enjoy a series of community benefits such as an opened up river walk and improvements at Bishops Park."
The council received 600 representations to its consultation on FFC's proposals with 453 in support of the development, 145 against and 2 with no comments.
"This is extremely exciting news and we are all delighted with this outcome. Craven Cottage is synonymous with Fulham FC and it is vital that the Club is given every opportunity to develop the facilities available to ensure that it can continue to prosper and compete, and remain at its home for the long term," said Alistair Mackintosh, the chief executive officer of FFC. "I am confident that an increased capacity and major improvements to the facilities can help us deliver the Chairman's vision of long term growth and self sustainability for this football club."
