PLANNING councillors in Thurrock are being asked to discuss an appeal against the refusal of a major planning application in secret next week.

The plan for 92 new homes, most flats, on land formerly occupied by the Ford Motor Company on Arisdale Avenue in South Ockendon was rejected by the council earlier this year following several meetings.

The plan was initially thrown out after applicants St Modwen Homes' persistence in pressing ahead with what they wanted, rather than a compromise suggested by planning councillors, outgrew the councillors' patience.

The refusal, which went against officer advice, was rubber stamped at a later meeting as councillors stood their ground. The councillors' objection came because Modwen refused to budge in their bid to swap houses that had been agreed in a previous application with more flats.

Now the application is back on the agenda for next Thursday's planning meeting (16 July) but the discussions may take place in secret without the public or press being able to watch. Seeking the privacy ruling, members are being asked to go behind closed doors because the item contains 'information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information.'

One of the major causes of the rejection was that councillors considered the developers were being 'greedy' in trying to squeeze more profit out of the site than the councillors deemed reasonable. The building company argued it might not be able to meet its profit targets unless the councillors changed their view and it appears likely that this will be the argument set for discussion next week.