A DEVELOPMENT on Rochester Riverside, described as "the most expensive piece of real estate in the country," has come a step closer with councillors voting in favour of the scheme. In a controversial move, public and media were sent out of the meeting while councillors discussed the multi-million pound scheme for 1,750 homes, a hotel, a school, a supermarket, recreation facilities and new businesses on the land.

They voted 61 to 13 in favour of the draft proposals put forward by developer Wimpey Homes. Former Mayor Cllr Richard Andrews, Conservative, said councillors were making the best of a bad job. He said: "This must be the most expensive piece of real estate in the country with the sea defences and work to clean up the contamination. But we have spent so much money on compulsory purchasing already, there was no option."

Cllr Jane Chitty, Conservative, complained that the whole project had been shrouded in secrecy since it was first conceived 10 years ago and developed by the then ruling Labour group.

But Labour group leader Cllr Paul Godwin said: "This scheme has been known about since the beginning. There are financial details which have to be kept secret but it has been in the public domain from the outset."