Supporters of a new multi-million pound football stadium for Brighton and Hove Albion are bracing themselves for another planning battle.

The soccer club has tabled plans to improve a road leading to the site of the proposed stadium but Lewes councillors are being urged by experts to oppose the scheme.

The Albion agreed to widen sections of Village Way in Falmer to secure the backing of the University of Brighton for the 22,000-seater community stadium.

But planners at Lewes District Council claim a larger road would ruin the character of the area.

The university was originally opposed to the stadium amid fears it would have a damaging impact on campus life.

As it owns a third of the proposed site, this could have wrecked the Albion's dream of a new £48 million arena.

The club's offer to widen Village Way, allowing two lanes of traffic in each direction between the site and the B2123, convinced the university to back the Albion.

The scheme also includes a roundabout at the university entrance and traffic signals at the B2123 junction.

A public inquiry into the proposals was adjourned for four months on June 13 to allow for fresh talks between the Albion and the university.

In a report to councillors, Lewes planners state: "The university requires the applicant to provide these new access arrangments. Without them, the university will not agree to signing planning or lease agreements and the stadium proposal could not therefore be implemented.

"It is relevant to note that at the public inquiry the applicant has made it very clear that in its own opinion there is no planning justification for this new access arrangement."

The report urges councillors to oppose the road scheme as not suited to an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).

Planners state: "The scale and form of the highway works would have a substantial detrimental visual impact on the character and quality of this AONB landscape and with the stadium and interchange, would contribute towards the closure of the important open countryside gap between the University of Brighton campus and Falmer village."

Falmer Parish Council has also objected, claiming the road improvements would "alter the visual character of Village Way" and lead to major road safety problems.

Councillors will discuss the application at a planning meeting on Tuesday, September 2.

As the road would include work within Brighton and Hove, the city council has also been asked to consider the application.

A final decision on the road scheme rests with the planning inspector at the inquiry, which resumes on October 14.

thisisbrightonandhove.co.uk/falmer