HELIOSLOUGH cannot prove that most of the occupiers of its railfreight depot will want to distribute just to the north-west Home Counties, its planning expert has admitted.

Richard Tilley admitted under cross-examination that he had no evidence that the majority of retailers would distribute on a sub-regional basis, adding:  “I don't know how you could demonstrate that.”

Mr Reed responded; ”What you could have done is gather the evidence, but you haven't done that, have you?”

Referring to a study by another of Helioslough's experts, Mr Tlley said; “Mr Gallup shows that major food retailers distribute on a sub-regional basis.

"Tesco are definitely interested.

“As there are only five units, you would only need two major food retailers for there to be a majority.”

The council hopes to prove that the railfreight depot will distribute to a large area to justify its contention that there are many potential locations thruoghuot the Home Counties.

Although the previous inspector was highly critical of Helioslough's sites study, the main reason for the failure of its first appeal, he supported the approach of looking just at the north-west sector of the M25.