A High Court challenge to a government decision to grant planning permission for a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) on the former Radlett Airfield in Park Street was unsuccessful.
St Albans council has until mid April to decide whether to seek permission to challenge the High Court ruling.
As well as refusing permission for the council to appeal his decision, Mr Justice Holgate awarded costs of more than £13,000 to the Secretary of State and is assessing further costs.
St Albans council leader, Cllr Julian Daly admitted that there was nothing to stop other interested parties applying for permission to develop Radlett Airfield.
The County Council could block the scheme by refusing to sell to Helioslough there is a suggestion that the land could become the subject of a compulsory purchase order because of the strategic national value of an Strategic Rail Freight Interchange being built there.
Cathy Bolshaw of campaign group STRiFE – Stop The Rail Freight Exchange – which has backed the district council in all its attempts to get the scheme stopped said it was ‘probably unlikely’ that the council would take any further legal action.
