Might be me, but I'm sure that the interest in Peel's financial affairs pre-dated any housing plans by a good few years.
I think if they has stayed you may have seen the place closed by now.
A quick fact check here - according to the Mayor, he saved it from closure - no "if's, but's or maybe's" - he saved it, and it's been repeated many times.
Now, I may have missed it but I don't remember any closure being announced. Peel said that they needed the housing to fund development of the southside and if they didn't get planning permission they might close it (shock, horror - black picture painted to try and secure planning permission). And hasn't the Mayor made similar "use it or lose it" comments and mentioned possible closure?