Councillors have said they want to scrutinise recently approved plans for selling land to a private housing developer in Greenwich.

Executive councillors passed proposals to sell three sites in Kidbrooke, Charlton, and Lewisham to Pocket Living earlier this week.

The developments will bring 150 homesto the borough, 100 per cent of which will be earmarked as "affordable", as well as making the council up to £130,000 in council tax.

Council leader Dan Thorpe defended the use of a private company rather than the council or Meridian Home Start – the council’s development company – developing the land.

When agreeing the plans on Tuesday, July 24, the leader said the council could not “make best use” of the land.

Now, councillors on the housing scrutiny panel have called to be involved in the process.

The proposals, which involve estate car parks and garages, will be subject to consultations.

Cllr David Stanley said at a housing scrutiny meeting last night: “If there’s going to be a consultation with tenants and leaseholders then there should be consultation with the councillors in scrutiny.”

Cllr Spencer Drury went further, asking what would be needed for the decision to be reversed.

He asked: “What would the results of the consultation have to be to reverse the decision in principle? What happens if everybody says no?”

There is no minimum number of responses needed for a consultation, although council bosses said the responses would be taken on balance.

Jamie Carswell, director of housing at Greenwich Council, said: “Obviously there is a judgement about changes – in this instance we have taken the view that there are positives to the proposals.

“We are obliged to consult for a minimum of 28 days – if scrutiny wish to be consulted and engaged as well, it would have to be different.”

It was proposed that following the council’s consultation the committee are given a say on the scheme, before the final decision.

Cllr Stanley added: “It’s even more valuable to have a scrutiny after the consultation, before the gentleman makes the decision. This is us saying: We want to scrutinise this.”

Pocket developments consist primarily of one-bedroom flats.

The money made from the sales will be earmarked to be split 20 per cent on renovations for the existing estates, and 80 per cent in developing council homes at social rent.

Cllr Chris Kirby, cabinet member for housing, said: “We do need affordable and socially rented homes. If this proposal goes ahead it gives us money to regenerate the local area, and to go to genuinely social rented housing.”

The developments would be between four and six storeys, bringing 151 homes to the borough.