DESPITE having submitted a planning appeal against a previous refusal of its plans to build 92 homes on part of the site of the former Ford Plant in South Ockendon, developers St Modwen Homes have come back to the council with another plan for the same site.

This is despite them reporting that Thurrock Council is not contesting the appeal against an elected councillors' decision made in March.

Planning officers wanted to approve the initial scheme for land on Arisdale Avenue submitted by St Modwen but not one planning committee member would support that view - saying the developers were showing 'unreasonable behavior and their contempt for the council was 'disgusting and threatening'.

Now St Modwen has brought a plan for 86 apartments and six standalone homes to the council.

St Modwen is critical of the councillors' decision - saying it had acted in full consultation with planning officers and had won their approval.

The appeal reflects those beliefs.

And St Modwen has brought its new application forward saying it seeks to improve the efficient use of this appropriate and sustainable site, while retaining and enhancing the high quality design of the residential development.

It cites previous planning approvals close by and a smaller approval for the existing site as reasons why this application should be successful. It may be that St Modwen is hoping that with officer support on its side, the committee which was reshaped and has several new members on it following last May's elections, will be less likely to stand its ground and support a controversial proposition. Recent decisions have certainly reflected a less belligerent mood in the committee as several applications which were opposed by residents and ward councillors but backed by officers have gone through.

You can read the full planning statement detailing St Modwen's views here while the full application with plans and the opportunity for residents to comment can be found here.