A plan for affordable homes has been given the go-ahead despite questions being asked about a linked housing scheme.

The approval for a block of 45 flats beside Queen Street car park in Chatham was approved although a neighbouring development – which has yet to get under way – has been put under council scrutiny.

Last month, the plans put forward by Creval (Chatham) Ltd to build 179 apartments on the car park were discussed at a behind-closed-doors meeting after the opposition Labour group "called them in".

Call-ins allow councillors to intervene when they feel a decision being made by the executive needs to be revisited or changed.

During a planning committee meeting last week, councillors unanimously approved a development on the neighbouring site, all of which will be affordable.

The schemes are linked because the development on the other side of Queen Street will satisfy the need to provide affordable housing for the Creval flats.

Ward councillor Vince Maple, who is also the Labour group leader, explained the call-in was "unusual" and added the recommendations from the closed meeting will later go to cabinet.

He said: "This is a process that we the council have started and we want to move forward on.

"I have a concern that that site may not come forward with the permission it currently has in part because of the conversations which have happened elsewhere."

The authority's head of planning, Dave Harris, said the call-in didn't relate to the planning permission which remains granted.

The site earmarked for the affordable flats currently includes five terraced houses – some of the properties are owned by mhs homes, and others are owned by the council.

The plans – which were put forward by the authority's development arm Medway Development Company – include a five-storey block of 45 flats with one and two bedrooms.