A massive housing refurbishment plan will leave scores of homes less insulated and facing higher fuel bills than nearby neighbours, according to Green Party councillors.

Their criticism came as Mayor of Lewisham Sir Steve Bullock admitted the huge scheme had not gone "in as smooth a manner" as he'd hoped.

The PFI project in Brockley, covering 1800 homes, is overhauling properties inside the conservation area to lower eco-standards than properties just a few feet away.

Green Party councillor Sue Luxton, whose Ladywell ward includes homes in the Brockley PFI, said:

"This is a wasted opportunity to make homes warmer, reduce fuel poverty and tackle climate change.

"Conservation area properties are being treated differently partly because they are mostly Victorian, solid-wall homes and more expensive to fit out. But 50% of London houses are the same, and we urgently need to insulate them properly."

Tenants outside the conservation area will get:
" Double glazing
" Roof insulation
" Cavity wall insulation

Inside the conservation tenants will get:
" No new windows unless rotten, just repairs and basic draught-proofing.
" Roof insulation
" No wall insulation if they are solid brick walls

Cllr Luxton added:

"This could have been a flagship project to pilot large-scale insulation of solid brick and good quality wooden-framed double glazed windows, which if well-maintained will last over 100 years.

"But sadly it appears the consortium's lawyers ran rings around the council's legal team, leaving little more than a paragraph on efficient heating in a 1,500-page contract."

Brockley councillor Romayne Phoenix added:
"Now tenants in the conservation area are unfairly footing the bill for this with rising fuel bills. Protecting the character of Victorian properties and bringing the insulation up to 21st century standards are not mutually exclusive. Yes, it's more expensive, but it can and should be done."

In a related Brockley PFI controversy, leaseholders are disputing the bills they are facing for the works being done. On Monday night, under questioning from Green Party councillors, Mayor Bullock said he would meet the leaseholders personally to hear their concerns.

He admitted in a written answer: "If I take the number of questions and emails relating to this matter as an indication, it would seem that the scheme is not progressing in as smooth a manner as I would have wished."