PLANS to build a housing estate at Walthamstow Stadium will be decided on by London mayor Boris Johnson within two weeks, it has emerged.

Housing association London and Quadrant (L&Q) got planning permission for the controversial 294-home development from Labour councillors at a meeting on Tuesday (May 8).

However one of the conditions was that the proposals must be referred to the mayor before building work can begin.

A spokeswoman for Mr Johnson told the Guardian that the legal deadline for him to make a decision on what to do next was 14 days. An announcement is expected the week beginning Monday May 21.

Mr Johnson, who was re-elected as mayor last week, can either "call in" the application for further consideration or he can do nothing.

If he chooses the latter option then the scheme will go ahead as planned.

The spokeswoman said it would be inappropriate for Mr Johnson to comment at this stage, but he has previously expressed concern at the proposals.

L&Q said yesterday (Wednesday May 9) it was keen to start construction as soon as possible.

The group previously said it could take around two years for work to be completed.

Campaigners from Save Our Stow (SOS) are now lobbying the mayor to call in the decision.

They have been joined by Labour London Assembly member Jennette Arnold, who was re-elected in the North East constituency, which covers Waltham Forest, last week.

In a letter to Mr Johnson, she said: "There are a number of aspects which are of particular concern.

"These include the lack of social housing, the complete absence of any social rented provision and the fact that only 24 flats will be at 'affordable rates' of rent.

"Given that there are 21,000 people on the housing waiting list [in Waltham Forest] the L&Q plan falls well short of what the community in Walthamstow needs and deserves.

"If given your approval, the development would amount to a huge wasted opportunity to deliver high quality social housing in an area of London where need is most acute."

Despite the vocal opposition to L&Q's plans from Walthamstow Labour MP Stella Creasy and Ms Arnold, their party has come under heavy criticism after all its councillors on the panel voted in favour of the application.

It prompted accusations they had been ordered to vote the same way by the party whip, a claim they strongly denied.

One of the councillors who voted for the plans, Ebony Vincent, lists herself as being an employee of Stella Creasy on her council declaration of interests.

When several residents pointed this out on Twitter, Ms Creasy said the information was out of date and wrote: "Cllr Vincent hasn't worked for me since November last year".

Ms Creasy, who said yesterday she was "saddened" by the outcome of the meeting, said planning committee members were independent when reaching their decisions.

Meanwhile, Chingford Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith, issued a statement today in reaction to Tuesday's verdict.

He said: “I am very displeased that the council has granted planning permission for L&Q’s plans – plans to which the vast majority of my constituents and the local community are passionately opposed.

"I will be lobbying the mayor now to review the matter and ensure that the wishes of the local community are respected.”

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