Proposals for a £290 million seafront development have suffered yet another blow with the withdrawal of support by Green councillors.

Green Party members of Brighton and Hove City Council who had previously backed Frank Gehry's scheme for the King Alfred site in Hove are calling for developer Karis to withdraw the plans and submit new ones.

Last night's announcement comes just days after English Heritage and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment ruled out supporting the scheme because they believe the sports and housing complex would not fit in with the rest of the seafront.

The move further damages the application's chances of making it through the planning process.

Brighton and Hove City Council's planning committee is made up of five Labour councillors, five Conservative, one Green and a Liberal Democrat.

The Liberal Democrats maintain the support of English Heritage was crucial to the development being approved, while the Conservatives have always voiced strong opposition to the existing scheme. This leaves Labour the only group still supporting the current plans.

Although planning committee members are not supposed to vote along party lines, the latest development means the scheme is unlikely to pass through committee stage.

It is now thought Karis may withdraw the application and submit a new one following talks with English Heritage.

Green councillor Keith Taylor said: "Karis has spent millions on this scheme and they do not want it to fail.

"But they are now staring failure in the face with this current application.

"We very much support the principle of the King Alfred scheme and like English Heritage we remain convinced that a scheme that preserves and enhances the city's historic environment is achievable here.

"However, we must be absolutely satisfied that the design and the finances are right. The application should be withdrawn and the scheme resubmitted after more design work has been carried out."

Lib Dem councillor Paul Elgood said: "English Heritage carries a lot of weight and can't be ignored. It would be very sad if we lost the sports centre and the affordable housing.

"People have been coming up to me on the street very concerned, asking if it is all over for the scheme. The public do not want to see this project killed off. We are hoping some kind of compromise can be reached."

Karis was unavailable for comment last night