Albion are asking councillors to change their planning blueprint so they can put their new permanent site in a different place.

But the move, to be discussed tonight by a task group meeting in private, will be strongly opposed by Green councillors.

The club has failed to come to an agreement with Brighton University for its original site north of Village Way, Falmer.

It is asking the council to approve a new location on the south side of Village Way.

A report says the planning issues surrounding the new site are essentially the same.

It adds: "Both proposals would need to be justified in terms of the criteria for development within an area of outstanding natural beauty to be successful."

But it says councillors will now have to decide whether to amend the plan by allocating a different site on the other side of Village Way, with a significantly increased site area, deeper in the area of outstanding natural beauty and in a more prominent position.

Green convenor Keith Taylor said: "This new site is twice the size and much higher than the other one. It is also further away from Falmer station.

"The goalposts are being moved deeper into the area of outstanding natural beauty and this is wrong.

"I do not want the council to be bounced into accepting this proposal. There is a lack of detail at the moment."

Albion are confident the new site, 200 metres from the original one, will be approved. Chief executive Martin Perry said a planning application will be submitted during the summer.