IN A shock announcement, the Government has given the seal of approval to plans for a giant rail freight depot on 155 acres of green belt land in Bexley.

Despite opposition from Bexley Council and environmentalists, global distribution company ProLogis has been given the go-ahead for the project on the Howbury Park site in Slade Green.

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Hazel Blears approved planning inspector Andrew Phillipson's recommendation the project fitted the "very special circumstances" criteria to enable green belt protection to be disregarded.

This followed a public inquiry in May held after the council rejected the proposal.

Ms Blears also overturned Dartford Council's refusal to allow ProLogis access to the Slade Green site via Bob Dunne Way, by means of a new swing bridge across the River Cray on the marshes.

At the inquiry, ProLogis claimed the £80m project could take hundreds of lorries off the roads, save 35,000 tonnes of carbon emissions a year and create up to 2,500 new jobs.

The depot would receive goods carried on up to six trains a day, which would then be transferred to lorries for their onward journeys.

And the depot will house four giant warehouses - the biggest would stretch from Sainsbury's supermarket in Bexleyheath to the Asda store in the Broadway.

Opponents of the scheme claimed there was no guarantee the project would be viable as a rail freight depot, and could end up becoming a giant lorry distribution centre.

ProLogis says it plans to start work on the site later this year.

Vice chairman Robin Woodbridge said: "This is very good news for Howbury Park and we are delighted the Government is pursuing its policy to move freight from road to rail."

He claimed the environmental benefits of the project were many, including lessening congestion and carbon emissions.

The project will include sustainable features including photovoltaic panels on the buildings and the use of grey water gathered on the site to water the surrounding 130 acres of marshes.

Opponents have reacted angrily to the decision, which was announced on Christmas Eve.

Ian Lindon, from Bexley Local Agenda 21, accused the Government of going back on its promises to protect green belt land.

Mr Lindon said: "This depot is going to be absolutely massive and people will be able to see it forever, no matter how many trees the company plants.

"It will be a total blot on the landscape forever more."

He added: "How much more is the Government going to throw at Bexley?

"First we had the incinerator, then the Thames Gateway Bridge, which still has not been resolved, and now this project.

"Is it trying to dump everything on us and ruin this borough?"

Bexley Council leader Councillor Ian Clement said: "I think they have used the green' umbrella to take a bit of the green belt.

"They are using the fact it is a rail terminal as a justification to say they need a bit of the green belt.

"Rail freight in the UK has not had a smooth ride over the past few years, and the amount of rail freight going through the Channel Tunnel is miniscule."

Roy Hillman, chairman of the Slade Green Community Forum said: "We are extremely disappointed this decision has been made, and concerned both for its impact on the community and on the general principle of protecting the green belt."

The inspector imposed 37 conditions on the project.