THE railfreight project will cause enormous harm to the Green Belt, the council's barrister Matthew Reed has told the inspector.
Continuing the first part of his closing statement, he said: “It is easy to overlook the extraordinary nature of what is proposed.
“The development is massive – 331,000 square metres of warehousing floorspace up to 20 metres high, car parking, service yards, screening bunds, rail sidings and a new road.
“It will replace restored open land of a rural nature standing between four communities, separating them and defining their boundaries.
“Massive warehouses would replace essentially open areas of countryside and the glimpses of the historic skyline of St Albans will be lost.”
The inquiry has adjourned until 9.30am tomorrow, when Mr Reed will complete his closing statment and Mr Kingston will summarise Heliosloigh's case.
The barristers will also debate Helioslough's application for costs tomorrow.
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