A bitter fight to stop a supermarket being built on Brighton's biggest brownfield site has taken a new twist.

Campaigners who opposed Sainsbury's opening a store next to Brighton station say the latest news gives them a ray of hope.

After lying derelict for 30 years, permission was granted last Christmas for the supermarket chain to open a branch in a 20-acre "urban village" between New England Street and the station's east side.

The complex would have two hotels, homes for more than 1,000 people, language school headquarters, a training centre, a community centre, workshops and open space.

But it was the Sainsbury's piece of the multi-million pound jigsaw which most angered opponents, who feared traffic congestion, pollution and the effect on local traders.

Now Green councillors are calling for the supermarket plans to be rethought after the retail chain revealed it intended selling its property development arm.

Local Green Party convenor Keith Taylor said the sale could lead to more negotiations with the business' new owners.

Coun Taylor - who is also a member of Brighton Urban Design and Development (Budd), which is opposed to the development - wants more affordable housing and employment space on the site.

He said: "If this sale goes ahead I think the new developers have an excellent chance to rethink the future of the site.

"Residential property prices have practically trebled since the first superstore application in 1997, when large-scale retail was identified as the most profitable way to develop a site.

"Circumstances have changed now and I believe the new owners could make a healthy return on their investment by building for what the city really needs - more affordable homes and well-paid full-time jobs.

"People have quite clearly said they don't want a development which simply drags in more cars and lorries into one of the most congested areas of the South Coast."

The development proposal was drawn up by the New England Consortium and will mean the closure of the Sainsbury's store in London Road.

When plans were put before the city council, members voted in favour of the scheme by eight to two and heard the supermarket would become the main income raiser for the project.

But Mr Taylor's calls have been given a frosty reception by council leader Ken Bodfish.

He said: "I cannot see how the Sainsbury's sale will make any difference to the plans. It seems this is just a wheeze to stop this scheme going ahead. The proposals have gone through the correct planning procedures and I see no reason why the development will not continue.

"It is all very well asking for affordable housing but somebody has to pay for it and this council certainly cannot afford to do it."

Liberal Democrat leader Paul Elgood gave Coun Taylor his backing but remained doubtful the situation would change.

Conservative group leader Brian Oxley added: "I am keen to find out what the sale would mean for future developments."

Sainsbury's announced the sale of its property development business J Sainsbury Developments (JSD) to concentrate on its core supermarket activities.

It has been reported the company is close to securing a deal on the sale, worth an estimated £180 million.

But Sainsbury's said there were no plans to shelve the station scheme.

A spokeswoman said: "The Brighton scheme remains a very important one. Sainsbury's is the anchor store and that won't change at all.

"I don't think there's any reason to be concerned about it. It's a very exciting development and I'm sure once the sale is concluded, more information will be forthcoming."

She declined to comment on the proposed sale of the property development business.