Radical changes have been made to plans for an urban village next to Brighton's main railway station.

The New England Consortium asked in April for more time to look at its scheme for land next to Brighton station.

The developers have come back with changes including a reduction of 200,000sqft.

The height of many proposed buildings has been reduced and plans to house key workers have been dropped.

A fitness centre would make way for extra business and shopping space but the proposed supermarket, the main bone of contention among opponents of the development, has been retained.

The ambitious scheme first went to Brighton and Hove City Council a year ago and was due to be considered by councillors in April this year.

But at the last minute the consortium asked for breathing space so it could change the project to meet the wishes of planners and the community.

It has produced a slimmed-down version of the original scheme.

But it has left in a supermarket, which is strongly opposed by some conservation and community organisations who say it is out of keeping with the area.

The consortium includes site owners Railtrack, Sainsbury's and Sussex-based developers QED. It is now urging the council to make a decision on the scheme in September.

Its urban village concept includes housing, hotels, the superstore, a language school headquarters and business space.

Under the revised scheme the height of many buildings across the site has been reduced, in some cases by up to three storeys.

This affects two hotels, an international education headquarters and a housing block.

Plans for key worker and student housing on the site have been dropped in response to the council's wish for more conventional housing in the scheme.

It is being replaced by more than 80 flats, 30 per cent of which will be allocated to social housing.

The total number of homes included throughout the scheme has increased from 287 to 355.

A proposed health and fitness centre has also been dropped in favour of more than 12,000sqft of extra space for small businesses and shops.

The consortium was to have donated land to the council for a community building but will now provide the £1 million centre itself.

Pedestrian links to the site from neighbouring areas have also been improved.

A new link will be created from London Road up York Hill and through the site to the station while another will give better access from the north end to New England Road.

The consortium has also met a council wish by providing more parking for disabled people throughout the site.

Project manager Chris Gilbert said: "The council set us a challenge to which we have responded. These revised plans dramatically reduce the scale of the scheme.

"They reflect the concerns of the planners and other interested parties about the impact of the scheme on its surroundings.

"A major development like this will inevitably evolve over time as a consequence of discussions with planners and others with a special interest in the site."

Mr Gilbert said special attention had been paid to the quality of architecture throughout the scheme.

Three of the UK's leading architectural practices have been responsible for designing individual sections of the development.

A model of the revised scheme is being produced and will be put on public display as soon as possible.

But the changes have not cut any ice with opponents of the scheme such as Brighton Urban Development and Design.

Spokesman Keith Taylor, who is also the local Green councillor for the area, said he was disappointed the scheme included a supermarket and car park which would add to traffic.

He said: "An opportunity has been missed to tackle Brighton and Hove's housing crisis.

"I call on the council to use its influence to bring about more housing on the site and to eliminate the unnecessary supermarket."

Coun Taylor said the rise in property prices had comfortably outstripped the rise in retail sites during the past year.

This should encourage the consortium to use housing as the main commercial basis of the scheme.

The planning history of the site is complex and goes back to 1970 when the Peachey property company put up development proposals which involved the redevelopment of the station as well.

This scheme was dropped but not before it had led to the foundation of the Brighton Society, still one of the main campaigning groups.

Subsequent schemes, including those offered by MEPC and Chesterfield, were hugely commercial because the development had to pay for the proposed Preston Circus relief road.

Once this requirement was dropped, an application was made for a supermarket, industry and housing but this was rejected after a public inquiry.

Now the consortium has produced its urban village idea and adapted it to meet many of the concerns originally raised.

If approved it will represent a multi-million pound investment in the city, providing hundreds of jobs and homes.

But has the consortium got it right? The arguments go on but a decision should be made by the end of the year.