Opponents of the proposed major redevelopment scheme on land next to Brighton station have renewed calls for a public inquiry.

Brighton Urban Design and Development (Budd) has asked the Government to call in plans by the New England Consortium for the Brighton station site.

They are due to be considered by a special meeting of the city planning committee next Wednesday.

The scheme includes two hotels, a supermarket, housing and a headquarters for a language college.

Dr Sara Bragg of Budd said: "A public inquiry would mean all the arguments about this essential site would be heard in public by a planning inspector with expertise in all areas, rather than decided by councillors in a single sitting."

Budd said the supermarket would increase traffic, there was not enough affordable housing and the scheme would block views of St Bartholomew's Church.

However, the consortium pointed out two traders' organisations had backed the project. The scheme respected the church and would provide jobs and homes on a long-derelict site.

Dr Bragg said the scheme offered only 100 affordable homes when there were 15,000 households in housing need in the city.

Another Budd spokesman, Ben Messer, said: "Budd is concerned that the developers' plans for tall, massed buildings, up to ten storeys high, will dominate the church and skyline and undermine the bold visual impact of the church."

Selma Montford of the Brighton Society said: "All day and night the Sainsbury's logo will be illuminated and shining down on the church."

Chris Gilbert, project manager for the New England Consortium, said Budd and the Brighton Society were using predictable scaremongering tactics to influence public opinion against the development.

"It is simply untrue to glibly write off the New England Quarter as a conventional development of supermarket and offices.

"In fact, much-needed housing for a thousand people will be the cornerstone of the scheme.

"It is also ridiculous to claim a supermarket logo will shine down on St Barts. In fact, the vast majority of the supermarket is in a basement and only one elevation of the store will be visible.

"We have gone to considerable time and effort and consulted leading experts in the field of urban design, to design a scheme that fully respects the church and the station."