A public inquiry into the proposed redevelopment of Brighton Marina cost the city council nearly £420,000.

Brighton and Hove City Council paid the sum to contest the hearing into Explore Living’s £300 million plans for 1,300 homes, offices, shops and a supermarket.

Campaigners say the costs for the four month appeal were “completely unnecessary”.

But the local authority defended the sum as “reasonable” and stated the inquiry was “part and parcel” of the democratic process.

The figure spent by the city council was revealed by a Freedom of Information (FOI) request and reveals for the first time the total amount spent by the local authority.

It stated that £259,999.64 was spent on legal expenses and £129,500 on consultancy fees.

A further £14,739 was spent on hiring venues while £1,145.20 went on catering, £2,195.85 on postage and £9,798.13 on printing.

The £808.44 on hospitality and expenses included a boat tour around the harbour for the Government inspector.

Smaller amounts were recorded for stationery (£285), information and communications technology (£1,113.44) and software (£200.56).

It does not include staffing costs by council officers who attended meetings and compiled documents for the appeal.

Government planning inspector Martin Pike opened the inquiry in November 2009 after the developers appealed the council’s planning committee decision to reject officers’ recommendations and turn down the scheme.

The reasons for refusal were dismissed when Mr Pike and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles returned their verdict in July.

Brian Simpson, of campaign group savebrighton (CORR), said: “The whole thing was completely unnecessary.

“If the council had listened to residents in the first place, it would never have encouraged developers to believe that they could get away with such a scheme.

“All that is left now is for someone to foot the colossal bill.

And that someone will be, as always, the local taxpayers.” A council spokeswoman said it endeavoured to keep expenditure as low as possible.

She said: “Inquiries are part and parcel of the democratic planning system and provide an opportunity for decisions to be challenged in public.

“There are costs involved in running them, and the cost of the Marina, which was a major inquiry taking four months to complete, was reasonable.

“The council remains committed to securing a development of the highest order that will benefit residents and enhance facilities.” An Explore Living spokesman said: “We remain committed to the Brighton Marina development and continue to work with its stakeholder partners to determine its next steps.”