A council has revealed it spent almost £75,000 fighting plans to build an Asda store in West Sussex.
A planning inspector ruled against the supermarket plan following a nine-day public inquiry in April.
Worthing Council said it would pay the cost from its "special and emergency expenditure" budget.
But Councillor John Rogers said it was "highly possible" some other form of development may be put forward for the Worthing College site.
He said if that happened, issues would have to be considered again in full.
Worthing Council cabinet members were considering the costs of the inquiry, which amounted to £74,808, at a meeting on Tuesday.
The plans were rejected by the inspector who said they were in conflict with development plans and national policies.