A public inquiry into Brighton and Hove Albion's new stadium is expected to delay the project by at least a year.

Chief executive Martin Perry said there would be a delay of anything up to 12 months after planning minister Lord Rooker decided the scheme should be called in.

The team does not now expect to be playing at the stadium until the start of the 2005/06 season.

The club applied to extend its permission to play at Withdean until June 2005 in anticipation of the decision to call in the application.

Mr Perry said: "It has certainly delayed the process by anything up to a year."

He said he was disappointed at the decision but confident the club would make a strong case and the stadium would be approved.

The hearing is expected to start early next year and the planning inspector will submit a final report in mid-2003.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott will then make a final decision on whether the stadium, at Village Way North, Falmer, should be built.

Mr Perry said: "We all look forward to the opportunity to present our proposals and get this matter settled.

"We are very confident once the plans are fully understood and have been examined the scheme will proceed." His comments were echoed by Brighton and Hove City Council leader Ken Bodfish who said: "I am disappointed. I hope it is resolved quickly as nobody benefits from long planning inquiries.

"But this is democracy in action. This will now allow everyone to have their say in what everyone recognises is a totally impartial forum. I am still hopeful the decision will ultimately be positive."

The council's planning committee agreed by 11 votes to one to grant the scheme planning permission in principle, subject to more than 30 conditions, in June.

The 22,000-seat stadium would host 30 league matches a year and accommodate other sporting events and concerts.

An application to build at neighbouring Village Way South, as an alternative to the favoured site, has been put on hold by the club.

The plan has provoked almost unprecedented interest since it was first proposed more than three years ago.

The project was backed in a referendum and a petition with more than 61,000 signatures - the largest ever submitted to the council - was handed over prior to the June meeting.

It dwarfed a petition submitted before the same meeting, signed by 6,000 opponents. But opposition is strong and the scheme's opponents were already planning to go to the courts if no inquiry had been called.

Environment groups claim the stadium would do serious damage to the Sussex Downs area of outstanding natural beauty and the setting of the proposed South Downs national park.

They said there were alternative sites for the ground in Brighton and Hove and criticised transport arrangements at the edge-of-city site.

Among issues the minister said he wanted to be told of by the inspector who heads the inquiry are:

How the proposal conflicts with policies to preserve the South Downs.

Evidence the proposal is in the national interest, necessary to build inside an area of outstanding natural beauty.

The visual impact on the environment and landscape and the impact of noise on local people.

How building at Falmer fits policies on sustainable transport and regenerating town and city centres.

The effect of the development on historic and listed landscapes and buildings.

Among groups who welcomed the decision to hold an inquiry was the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

Policy director Neil Sinden said: "We are particularly pleased the Secretary of State has decided to call this in.

"This should come as no surprise to anybody who is of the view this proposal should be properly scrutinised."

Hilary Leigh, of the Society of Sussex Downsmen, said: "This is what we were expecting and we are ready to go ahead."

Eric Huxham, chairman of Falmer Parish Council, said: "We are just going to fight it because it is in an area of outstanding natural beauty and a national park."