St Albans freight terminal decision delayed

A decision on an appeal by developers wanting to build a rail freight interchange in Hertfordshire has been delayed by the government.

HelioSlough Ltd had appealed against St Albans council's decision to refuse planning permission for the depot at a former aerodrome in Park Street.

It was the company's second appeal after the first was also dismissed by the government.

A decision was due on 13 June but no new date has been set.

St Albans City and District council originally refused planning permission in 2009, as it considered the proposal would cause harm to the Green Belt. In 2007, a similar plan for nearby Radlett was also turned down.

Public inquiry

HelioSlough said its plans followed government policies to transport goods by rail not road and that the terminal was needed to serve the whole of the south east of England

A public inquiry was held in 2009 and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles dismissed the company's appeal the following year.

However, HelioSlough successfully challenged that decision in the High Court in July 2011, and the matter was referred back to the government.

Earlier this year the Secretary of State said a decision would be announced on or before 13 June.

The council has now been told that "the decision will not be made within this time frame".

St Albans MP Anne Main has described the delay as "enormously frustrating" because the continuing possibility of the development was "blighting the lives" of her constituents.

"This protracted legal challenge is not in the best interests of St Albans and whilst this news is disappointing I am still hopeful that even after this amount of time the correct decision will be made," she said.

A spokesman for HelioSlough Ltd said: "We note that the decision has been delayed and we await the outcome."