PLANS to transform Walthamstow Stadium into a housing development have been revealed this morning - with the site's owners vowing they will never sell it.

Under the proposals, eight blocks including one seven-storey central complex will be built behind the stadium's historic listed frontage, which will remain intact.

Along with walkways, a stream and a scattering of individual houses, a number of retail and leisure units will also be included, with an overall total of 490 homes.

The site's listed kennels will be turned into a creche.

The developers, London and Quadrant (L&Q) say the properties will be a mixture of rented and sale homes, with 239 of them set to be "affordably" priced.

In what will be seen by many as a stinging rebuke to the Save Our Stow (SOS) campaign group, which is trying to buy back the site and re-open it as a dog racing venue, L&Q said it had never received a serious offer for the stadium.

Chris Middleton, L&Q's head of communications, said: "If there was any economic viability in greyhound racing continuing in Walthamstow we would have expected interested parties to have made an offer.

"Despite claims by others we can state categorically that no evidenced, substantiated offer for the site has ever been received.

"Our position therefore remains clear. The site is not for sale, its future lies in providing homes and a community for the people of Waltham Forest, and its design will act as a fitting tribute to its historic past."

The unveiling of the plans comes as L&Q hosts a public consultation event at the Holiday Inn hotel, in Chingford Road, opposite the stadium this morning.

Residents can examine the proposals in closer detail and contribute their views between 10am and 2pm.

A protest led by SOS against the scheme is also being held outside the hotel at 11am, with organisers claiming that celebrity actor Ray Winstone and football star Teddy Sheringham will be making appearances.

Critics have called the consultation a "sham" but L&Q has insisted residents will be listened to.

A planning application for the development is expected to be submitted to Waltham Forest Council by the end of this month.

More to follow later today.

What do you think of the plans? Leave your comments below or email reporter Daniel Binns at dbinns@london.newsquest.co.uk