The inquiry into Brighton FC’s new football ground will examine nine alternative sites.

Nine potential sites for Brighton and Hove Albion’s new football stadium will be considered when the two-year long inquiry into the new ground reopens next Tuesday.

The inquiry started in 2003 after locals opposed Brighton and Hove Albion football club’s proposed move to a 22,000-seater stadium in nearby Falmer.

Deputy prime minister John Prescott, who adjourned the inquiry last July for the second time, put forward the alternative sites. On Tuesday the interested parties will tour the sites and experts will begin giving evidence to the government inspector on the following day.

The club chief executive, Martin Parry, is still convinced that the initial location would be the most suitable. He said: “Falmer is the best site within Brighton and Hove for our new stadium. We are confident that Mr Prescott will come to the same conclusion.”

So far, more than £300,000 has been spent by the club to decide which one of the sites would be the most feasible in terms of planning, environment, traffic and safety.

Since the closure of Goldstone Ground in 1997, the club has been without a permanent home. The planned stadium would be three times the size of Withdean, a 7,000 seats athletics stadium, where the club currently plays.