A decision on whether there should be an inquiry into plans for Brighton and Hove Albion's new stadium is expected to be delayed at least a month because planners made a mistake.

Notices displayed by Brighton and Hove City Council at the Falmer site failed to say the proposal was a departure from existing planning policies.

Conservationists fighting the scheme said the club's application should go before the council's planning committee again because of the error.

The council, which now has to display correctly-worded notices for three weeks from July 5, said it was unlikely there would be any fresh comments that had not already been considered.

A spokesman said it had been common knowledge the stadium proposal was a departure from the existing local plan and it had been referred to in the planning report.

He said: "It's a hiccup. We don't think it in any way affects permission granted earlier this month or any likely decision of the Secretary of State."

The Council for the Protection of Rural England said the decision to grant planning permission in principle should be revisited.

Policy director Neil Finden said: "We believe it should go back to committee. It is important with something big and controversial that the local authority is seen to be following the correct procedures."

The mistake was spotted by government planners when paperwork was sent to them prior to a decision on a public inquiry.

The Secretary of State normally has 21 days to decide whether to call a public inquiry, although the deadline can be extended.

The delay means John Prescott now has until at least mid-August to decide whether there should be an inquiry into the project.

The council's planning committee agreed to grant the stadium, at Village Way North, planning permission in principle by 11 votes to one on June 12, subject to 30 conditions.

Eric Huxham, who chairs Falmer Parish Council, said: "It just shows how slap-dash Brighton has been about it.