AN under-fire councillor has been accused of hypocrisy over his role with a firm bidding to put hundreds of houses on the green belt in the North East.

Liberal Democrats in Newcastle face renewed pressure to deselect Greg Stone after it emerged the councillor works as head of northern operations for a firm representing home builders in a controversial Ponteland scheme.

Indigo Public Affairs has set up several public consultations for plans to build new homes near Ponteland for developers Lugano, who want to build 280 homes at Birney Hill Farm, near Darras Hall. Opponents say Mr Stone is regularly seen at these events, though Indigo say there is nothing controversial about Mr Stone’s work for the company and insist he has not worked on any projects in Newcastle.

Labour councillors in the city have said that the Lib Dems’ opposition to house building in Newcastle countryside stands at odds with Mr Stone’s work securing homes in Ponteland.

In March 2012 Mr Stone was one of several opposition councillors who put their names to a letter raising questions over Newcastle’s plans for more than 20,000 new homes.

He and others warned that a badly executed local plan would put the city’s “whole environment, including green belt, in jeopardy.”

Labour councillor Michael Burn said: “Although when in control of the council the Newcastle Lib Dems agreed to build new homes on the green belt, the Lib Dems now claim not to be in favour.

“However just a few miles north in Ponteland, Coun Stone appears to be supporting large scale green belt build. This is pure hypocrisy and highlights why it is not suitable for him to be re-selected as a councillor in 2014.”

The Ponteland Green Belt Group has said Mr Stone’s work raises questions.

Alma Dunigan, who chairs the group, said: “People will be somewhat concerned at all this. It might be allowed but it appears to raise questions.”

Coun Stone referred all questions to Indigo. A spokesman for them said: “In common with most companies, we do not discuss our client’s business with the press unless we have had express authorisation to do so. Members of our staff who are local councillors never work on our client’s projects within their own local authority area. All our staff are obliged to sign and adhere to a strict code of conduct that goes way beyond what is required by law.”

Mr Stone was placed under the spotlight when undercover reporters from The Daily Telegraph posed as members of a firm interested in his consultancy work.

Recordings of him explaining that “cunning” was sometimes needed to get plans passed and claims that his company could enable “doors to open” has led to calls from Labour councillors that he should resign.

Alex Ritson, head of strategy for Indigo Public Affairs Ltd, said: “Both Greg and Indigo Public Affairs adhere to the highest professional standards. As such, Greg should be commended, even by his political opponents.”

The company last night declined to disclose which projects Mr Stone has been involved in the North East despite calls yesterday from MP Kevan Jones to list the planning applications he has worked on.

Indigo Public Affairs have submitted a complaint about the Telegraph investigation to the Press Complaints Commission.