Land needed for Albion's proposed stadium at Falmer will not be made available unless safeguards demanded by the University of Brighton are in place.

In their closing statement to the public inquiry into the scheme, university bosses said agreements had not been reached.

Rhodri Price Lewis QC, representing the university, said the stadium could not be built without the land at Falmer Way, about a third of which is owned by the university.

He said: "The university supports the stadium if its concerns can be met. The land is not available if its concerns are not met."

He said the 22,000-seat arena was "energetically supported" by Brighton and Hove City Council, which would be responsible for enforcing planning conditions.

The university is demanding tougher legal safeguards to protect its day-to-day activities.

Mr Price Lewis said control could not be surrendered without the guarantees.

Under those circumstances, the project could only go ahead if the council acquired the land through compulsory purchase.

He said: "Obviously that potential of compulsion is a matter of great concern to the university."

The inquiry, which has sat for eight weeks and cost more than £1 million, is hearing closing submissions from objectors and supporters.

The question of a coach park, linked to the stadium and road junction at Village Way, will be revisited when the inquiry reconvenes for two weeks in September.

Jack Wilkinson, of Sport England, said Falmer had not been selected as an easy option but because there was no alternative site.

He said: "After 100 years, it would be a major loss to Brighton and Hove as well as to football and to sport in Sussex, if the Albion were unable to maintain their status and to aspire to their potential as sporting and community champions.

"They cannot do that at Withdean."

Roger Curtis, representing the Society of Sussex Downsmen, said the club's survival was not in the national interest.

He said the stadium was primarily for the club rather than the community and the society was seriously concerned many issues were unresolved.

Richard Allden, of the Council for the Protection of Rural England, said the stadium would represent an example of "urban creep".

The club is expected to make its closing submission to the public inquiry tomorrow.