DEVELOPERS HelioSlough have released a statement following the High Court decision which will see their proposals for a huge rail freight terminal on Green Belt land revisited.

The company, which wants to build the 3.5 million square foot depot on the former Radlett Airfield in Park Street, won a judicial challenge on Friday at the High Court and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government will now have to reconsider his decision to over-rule the planning inspector who had recommended approval.

A statement said: “We are very pleased that the judge has ruled in our favour, supporting our challenge to the decision made by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government last July. The effect of the court ruling is that the Secretary of State will have to reconsider his decision on the inspector’s report. The Inspector had recommended that planning permission be granted for the Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) at Radlett.

“The SRFI is important for sustainable economic growth – some �250 million will be invested by the private sector in this development, with some 3,000 jobs being generated, over the long term. It will also generate significant carbon savings by switching freight on the railways that would otherwise have been moved by road.”

It added: “In the light of this ruling, we now await to hear from the Secretary of State what his next steps will be and we will be engaging fully in that process.”