Veolia has taken to the High Court to challenge the decision refusing the building of a £1bn energy-from-waste incinerator in New Barnfield Hertfordshire.

The planned plant on green-belt land at New Barnfield was judged "inappropriate" by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, who went on to saythat the benefits did not outweigh the potential harm to the green-belt.

Veolia is challenging the decision on legal grounds, claiming the government department contradicted its own planning and policy rules.

Herts County Council spent almost £6m trying to get the plans approved.

It agreed the plans from Veolia in October 2012 despite considerable local opposition, but the decision was called in by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

Veolia said it "strongly believed" Hertfordshire needed its own waste treatment plant inside the county boundaries.

"Having studied the Secretary of State's decision, we believe current policy and law have been misapplied," a spokesman said.

The waste company is taking its challenge to the High Court at their own cost, independently from the county council which is not challenging the decision.

The court's decision is expected early next year, after the two-day hearing which concludes today (17 December).