Plans for 100 “council social homes” in the Place Ladywell development in Lewisham have been questioned.

This is after it emerged tenants will pay between £50 to £60 more per week than “traditional” council rent.

Lewisham Council has proposed to move the “pop-up” temporary accommodation at Place Ladywell to build 200 homes – 50 per cent of which will be “council social homes”.

“Council social” is not a recognised social housing term, but suggests the homes would be let at “traditional” council rent levels.

But at an overview and scrutiny meeting it emerged the “council social homes” will be let for London affordable rent – the most expensive type of social housing.

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London affordable rent would see tenants paying around £50 to £60 more per week depending on the number of bedrooms, according to figures from housing and homelessness charity Shelter.

Freddie Murray, acting assistant director of regeneration at Lewisham Council, said “council social homes” meant “homes to be managed by Lewisham Homes, managed at social rents, and social rent being defined as rents that are at London affordable rent and below.

“So that would encompass the new homes for social rent, that would encompass London affordable rents, and what we would call traditional target social rents which are based on the same equation of calculating rents, [but] just slightly different assumptions in terms of rental growth,” he said.

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But after questioning from Cllr Alan Hall, Mr Murray said the scheme proposes homes for London affordable rent, not “council social homes”.

London affordable rent is mentioned further in the public council report on the scheme but is not included in the recommendation.

A council press release on the scheme does not mention the homes will be for London affordable rent.

Mr Hall said: "If we marry the two reports [public and private members report] up I can't see any suggestion that there are any other homes under the London affordable rent being proposed, is that not true?"

Mr Murray said including traditional social housing in the scheme was “something we will keep under review”, with the remaining 50 per cent of the development to be let for market rent or market sale to fund the affordable housing on site.

Cllr Hall said many do not regard London affordable rent as affordable, and questioned who approved the use of the term “council social homes” in the recommendation.

“By saying council social homes, this is a nebulous definition. It has no legal basis at all and it is in an officer report and I would argue that that recommendation is not right. It is not correct.

“I just don’t believe it’s accurate if I am honest. Where does it come from? We have never used this term in this way before. You should really have used London affordable rent because that means something. This does not.”

Mr Murray said: “We have been directed by the Mayor and cabinet member for housing about the social rent, which in Lewisham terms is defined as London affordable rent or below.”

But Cllr John Muldoon said the report was only to approve the submission of the final proposals, which didn’t mean planning permission was guaranteed.

Press and public were excluded from the meeting before formal comments for referral to the mayor and cabinet were made.

Shelter’s figures show the average council rent for one-bed flat in Lewisham at £84.97 per week, rising to £95.54 for a two-bed, and £111.81 for a three-bed.

London affordable rent would see someone paying £144.26 per week for a one-bed, £152.73 for a two-bed, and £161.22 for a three-bed.

A spokesperson from the charity said this was an “important distinction.”