Supporters of an alternative scheme to save the stricken West Pier in Brighton are pressing ahead with their plans.

Birch Restorations will ask Brighton and Hove City Council to consider its application even if the planning committee approves the controversial scheme proposed by the West Pier Trust and developers St Modwen.

The St Modwen scheme is being recommended for approval by councillors at a meeting on Wednesday.

However, it is strongly opposed by conservationists and neighbours who have formed the umbrella group Save Our Seafront.

They consider the on-shore development needed to make restoration viable would be too big.

Birch Restorations has put in alternative plans for restoring the pier, which do not give details of shoreline buildings.

They have indicated the enabling development would be far smaller and kept below the level of King's Road.

Builder John Regan, main spokesman for Birch, said: "We have done a full appraisal of the costs while St Modwen has only estimated its costs."

He understood St Modwen would spend £25 million on the pier while Birch could do it for £21.4 million.

Birch is also proposing a 38,000sqft development - half the size of the St Modwen scheme.

Mr Regan said Birch had backers to fund its scheme if it became a reality.

Consultant David Courtney, the man behind the Walk of Fame at Brighton Marina, said: "What we need to get across is that there is not only one game in town for the West Pier.

"These people have ten years of history with the pier and have spent a lot of money on it. They want to be considered equally."

Mr Regan said if the alternative scheme was approved, negotiations could be concluded quickly with private sector partners and the lottery fund.

Dr Geoff Lockwood, chief executive of the West Pier Trust, said: "Our proposals are the product of more than seven years of negotiation with the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage and city council.

"The existing terms and the promised funding are available only to the trust and alternative proposals not backed by the trust would fail.

"If the trust, inconceivably, now wished to switch to alternative proposals, the Heritage Lottery Fund would insist on a new application and a fresh start to negotiations with a totally credible team.

"This would delay restoration work for at least three years by which time the West Pier may well have been destroyed."

He said the new proposals would restore the pier to its best days and add three new pavilions.

He said: "Alternative plans, submitted by objectors recently, have revealed no evidence of such support, financial credibility or delivery proposals."

St Modwen director Nick Doyle said: "We believe we now have a scheme worthy of the pier's Grade I-listed status. This is the time for a decision once and for all."