Just can't happen I'm afraid. Planning process is a very open and public affair which can't be got around. Best case scenario is that they have done of lot of what's called pre-app works, whereby they have been spending a lot of time in discussion with the planning authority so that when the scheme is actually submitted for planning most, if not all of the design, capacity, off site upgrades, and required surveys have been agreed. Nice thought though and you'd not be totally wrong to think that planning permissions cannot be "manipulated" as everything becomes political in the end especially at this level of scheme.