OXFORD Stadium in Blackbird Leys could be demolished to make way for new homes and flats.

A public consultation is to be held next week on plans for 150 houses and 75 flats at the greyhound stadium site, the Oxford Mail understands.

The developer would have to give cash for city leisure facilities if it gets planning permission from Oxford City Council .

The Sandy Lane venue was last year removed from a council plan showing where city housing should go after an outcry.

But a council planning boss said this would not stop the new plan going ahead.

The development would be the final nail in the coffin for the return of speedway to the site after a gap of five years.

Blackbird Leys Parish Council chairman Gordon Roper said: “It would be a shame if the stadium goes.

“The developers need to leave something for recreation there, whether it be a dog track or football pitch.

“Once they develop it the speedway will be gone, it could never come back.

“The stadium has always been valued by the residents.”

Oxford Speedway Supporters’ Club chairman Gavin Beckley said: “The stadium is well attended and it would be a crying shame to lose it.

“If we lose it we will never get it back again because no-one wants to build greyhound stadiums anymore.

“You can’t put houses on the site and retain the stadium – it is one or the other.”

Stadium general manager Maureen Ridley said it was the first she had heard of the plans after being contacted by the Oxford Mail.

She said: “It isn’t very good when I have 74 members of staff, including myself, whose jobs could be in jeopardy.”

The stadium was bought by Risk Capital Partners with Gillard Homes in 2005 for £52.4m when the property market was buoyant.

It was put in the city council’s list of sites put forward by their owners for redevelopment in May last year but removed in December.

Deputy council leader Ed Turner said then there was a “clear message” to retain the stadium.

The agent for the new development, Savills, and Risk Capital did not comment after being contacted yesterday.

No details have been given but the council has been told the plans are for 225 homes, half affordable.

Executive board member for city development Colin Cook said: “We would need a leisure contribution from them as it is a loss of a leisure facility.”

Council planning officers would also seek a bridge over neighbouring train tracks to Tesco, he added.

The Labour councillor said: “We take all applications on their merits.”

The public consultation will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday from 4pm to 8pm at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre, Pegasus Road.