The Albion have submitted TWO planning applications for a new stadium at Falmer.

One is for Village Way North on land partly owned by Brighton and Hove City Council and the University of Brighton.

The other is for Village Way South, which does not include university land.

Albion have launched the surprise move because agreement has not yet been reached with the university and they do not want to delay the planning process.

The dual approach amounts to a clear warning to the university that unless a deal can be struck they will not be involved in the community project.

Chief executive Martin Perry stressed: "We want to do a deal with the university and build a stadium on Village Way North.

"Negotiations with the university have not been completed and until we can conclude those discussions we have decided to prepare two applications running side by side, so at least one will get to the committee stage in good time."

It is understood there are three matters still to be resolved with the university. They are money to replace buildings, the terms of the lease and technical issues.

Mr Perry said agreement had more or less been reached on the cost of replacing buildings.

But he added: "Unless there is a very substantial climbdown by the university we have got a long way to go. The big hurdles are the terms and conditions of the lease.

"We will need an answer from them in six months, before it goes to committee."

Albion's alternative application for Village Way South is sure to meet opposition from conservationists.

It is further away from residential areas but, unlike Village Way North, crosses the proposed boundaries of the South Downs National Park.

Mr Perry said: "The additional landtake for South over North is just over ten acres. The National Park is 400,000 acres, so we are taking 0.0026 per cent.

"The National Park boundary also dog-legs. It would make more sense if it went straight across. Then we would be outside the National Park.

"Traffic arguments for both sites are identical and most of the environmental issues are exactly the same."

Albion's dual planning bid coincides with exhaustive details from the club about their plans for a permanent new home.

The stadium will cost more than £40 million. It will be constructed in four phases, with a final capacity of more than 22,000 and completion date of 2011-12.

It will create 1,000 new jobs and generate an extra £10 million into the local economy per year.

Other features of the community stadium include a study support centre for children and training skills for adults.

Most fans will travel to matches via three park-and-ride schemes and public transport, keeping disruption to a minimum for local residents.

Albion hope phase one, a two-sided stadium with a capacity of more than 14,000, will be ready for them to move in during the 2004-2005 season.

They will be seeking an extension to their temporary stay at Withdean until then.