Sussex County Cricket Club is facing up to leaving its spiritual home in Hove after 167 years as plans to redevelop the ground were recommended for refusal.

The club wants to build new offices, flats, a restaurant and conference centre at the southern end of the County Ground in Eaton Road.

The ageing Gilligan stand would be knocked down, an improved spectator terrace built in the south-west corner and the ground's entrance remodelled.

But planning officials have decided the development would be out of place next to the Willett Estate conservation area and the Grade II-listed building in Wilbury Road.

Club chairman David Green warned the club could be forced to move if the multi-million pound scheme is turned down.

He told The Argus: "We need to have revenue streams all year round, rather than just the 45 days when cricket is staged. We have made losses for the last five years and if they continue we will not be able to sustain the club as it stands.

"Our facilities off the field do not match the success we have had on it.

We are the best side in the country and have an enviable record of developing youth cricket.

"All we want at the County Ground are facilities which will provide an income which will enable us to sustain that and we are not asking for any public money to help fund them."

Former vice-president Spen Cama bequeathed the club £10 million, which would fund the works.

But city council planning officer Paul Earp says in his report the proposal is "unacceptable".

The report says: "While the immediate area contains several eight to nine-storey blocks of flats, the proposed six-storey building in this location would be detrimental to the character and appearance of the conservation area and setting of the listed building."

He feels it would be too close to neighbouring properties and overshadow them.

But Mr Green said the size of the initial scheme had already been halved. He said: "We have been told that if we reduced the number of storeys from six to five the building would be approved. But this would make the project unviable.

"As a quid pro quo the planners asked us to withdraw our huge existing permission for development at the north end which has been in place for a number of years.

"They also told us we would be unlikely to get permission to develop the other sides of the ground.

"That leaves us nowhere to economically redevelop the ground if we can't go ahead with the current scheme.

"If that is the case, we have to seriously consider looking for an alternative site elsewhere in the county.

"It was something the club discussed a few years ago but we decided to stay at Hove. There was a lot of interest then and I'm confident there would be councils who would be happy to talk to us and accommodate us."

Brighton and Hove City Council has received 30 letters objecting to the County Ground redevelopment and 180 supporting it.

Councillors are due to discuss the application next Wednesday.

Do you think Sussex should be given the green light to develop the County Ground in Hove? Leave your comments below.