A three-time Derby winner who has been seeking to buy Walthamstow Greyhound Stadium from housing association London & Quadrant has lodged alternative plans for the historic site.
Bob Morton, who is working with campaign group Save our Stow and architect Spacelab, objects to L&Q’s plans to redevelop the east London stadium as a 300-home scheme. L&Q’s £100m proposals have been labelled as “poorly designed, completely isolated” and a “flashback to the bad old days of high-density housing estates” by Save our Stow.
Morton has now submitted a pre-application document proposing an alternative scheme for the 11.5-acre site that he believes will “regenerate Walthamstow dog track into a viable and unique development”.
The plans include enhancing the entrance area, refurbishing the grandstand with bars and a contemporary restaurant, linking all areas of the stadium with a ribbon-type roof canopy, refurbishing the listed kennels, creating a partially enclosed area for public viewing of the greyhounds and revamping the track’s basement nightclub.
Morton’s property vehicle Hawk Developments is also proposing the creation of around 100 private and affordable flats. It has teamed up with a registered social landlord to operate the homes.
Morton has been trying to buy the stadium since summer 2010, submitting various bids to L&Q of between £6m and £9m. The offers have all been rejected by L&Q for failing to meet market value. The stadium was put up for sale in 2005 for £30m-£40m. L&Q bought it in 2008 for an undisclosed sum.
The alternative plans were submitted just days before a public consultation on L&Q’s proposals for the site closed on 31 August.
samantha.mcclary@estatesgazette.com
