LONDON mayor Boris Johnson will make a final decision on plans to build a housing estate at Walthamstow Stadium in less than two weeks, the council has announced.


Labour councillors approved planning permission for 294 homes at the former greyhound racing track back in May, but the authority has spent the last few months finalising financial details of the project with the developers London and Quadrant (L&Q).


Due to the size and scale of the development Mr Johnson has the final say.

He can either allow the application to go ahead or 'call it in' by ordering a review of the plans, which could potentially see them sent back to the council.


The council has today issued a statement saying it has now sent off all the relevant paperwork to Mr Johnson's office and it expects him to make a decision on Wednesday October 24.


It comes just days after the council was ordered by the government's Information Commissioner to make public documents on the viability of the housing plans.


Campaigners claim the documents, which the council has tried to keep secret on the grounds they are commercially sensitive, prove that part-taxpayer funded L&Q will lose £26 million from the development.


It is not clear if the council will publicly release the viability documents prior to the mayor's decision.


The delay in sending the planning application to Mr Johnson has been due to wrangling over L&Q's 'section 106' [S106] grant contribution to the council in return for it being allowed to build the housing estate.


A council spokesman said the final details of the S106 agreement were not yet ready to be made public.


He added: "The S106 is now in its final draft form and the planning application has been referred to the GLA [Greater London Assembly].


“The GLA has 14 days to consider the application and it is understood that the Mayor of London will be making a decision on this application on October 24, 2012."

Ricky Holloway, of the Save Our Stow (SOS) campaign group, which wants to see the return of greyhound racing at the stadium, urged Mr Johnson to 'call in' L&Q's plans.

He wrote in an open letter to Mr Johnson this week: "You simply cannot allow a RSL [registered social landlord L&Q] to use taxpayer money to lose millions...

"Act for the local community - we need a greyhound track in the capital. 

"The rich fabric of the iconic Stow, steeped in history, must become the beginning of the new era of your mayoral leadership and vision."

L&Q says the development will provide much-needed housing for the borough and boost the surrounding area.

Its plans include a gym-like leisure centre, nursery and allotments.

The stadium has been derelict since it closed as a dog racing venue in 2008.