Brighton and Hove Albion launched its case for a new stadium at Falmer by saying the club's survival depended on the plans going ahead.

Jonathan Clay, representing the club and speaking today at the opening of a crucial public inquiry into the proposals, said the stadium was the key to the club's future.

Mr Clay said the 22,000-seater community stadium was essential to the cultural and urban regeneration of Brighton and Hove.

Watched by about three dozen Albion fans, Mr Clay said: "It is our case that the very survival of the club depends upon the success of this application. Its collapse would leave this region unrepresented at any level in the football league or premier league."

He told the inquiry at Hove Town Hall that siting any major development in the South Downs area of outstanding natural beauty (ANOB) would be controversial.

He said: "It is the club's case that the provision of a modern, safe, comfortable and convenient stadium for a city of the size and regional importance of the city of Brighton and Hove is a consideration of national significance."

Mr Clay likened Brighton to Barcelona in terms of its regional importance and that it was "simply extraordinary" that the team found itself in cramped, temporary accommodation at Withdean.

He went on: "It is our case that Falmer is the right place for the new stadium. The identification of Falmer has not arisen as the least worst option.

"Rather, the case for the club is that this is a first-class site, partly on previously developed land next to the A27 trunk road and the Brighton-Lewes railway line and surrounded on all four sides by roads, railways and other built development.

"The club has carried out a careful and structured assessment of the landscape and historic features of the area and have concluded that the impact of the development is acceptable."

The stadium site itself is outside the proposed South Downs National Park. The coach park would be inside the proposed boundaries.

The club announced this morning that a planned coach park south of Village Way had been dropped.

Robert White, representing Lewes District Council, said the stadium was a major commercial development and "little weight" to its impact on the AONB had been given by the club or by Brighton and Hove City Council.

He said there would be significant environmental harm and any decision on the stadium's future should focus on conserving an area of national landscape importance.

He added: "It is axiomatic that development of this scale and kind fails to enhance or conserve this area of outstanding natural beauty."

Brighton and Hove City Council said it backed the stadium.

Its representative, Mary Macpherson, said: "The city council is confident that a stunning proposal by Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club is correctly sited, meets all the relevant national policy criteria, will make an unparalleled contribution to the economic wellbeing of the city and the wider area, and ought to be built."

Supporters and objectors will speak at the inquiry, which is scheduled to run until April 4 but may be extended.

The inspector's report and recommendations will be sent to the deputy Prime Minister's office in the summer.

A final decision is not expected until September or October.