St Albans rail freight hub plans blocked by government
The government has blocked the building of a rail freight terminal in Hertfordshire.
The developers HelioSlough wanted to put the depot on the former Radlett Aerodrome site near St Albans.
They revised their plans and appealed to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government after rejection at a public inquiry in 2009.
But their appeal has been rejected and planning permission refused by Secretary of State Eric Pickles.
He said the proposal did not fit in with the development plan in the area and would have been inappropriate in the Green Belt.
He also highlighted the possible harm to the landscape and ecology.
The government also disagreed with the claim that there were no other suitable sites for the development.
HelioSlough could still appeal to the High Court within the next six weeks.