Fulham will kick off next season at Craven Cottage after local council officials approved the Londoners' £5 million scheme to bring their outdated ground up to Premiership standards.
Chairman Mohamed Al Fayed is funding the budget revamp after axing a £100 million plan for a 30,000 state-of-the-art stadium because of escalating costs.
Builders will now move into Craven Cottage and bolt seats onto terraces, add roofing and install new floodlights, giving the ground a 22,000 capacity by August 2004.
Fulham have shared Loftus Road with Queens Park Rangers for the last two seasons.