The government could be prepared to fully bankroll the controversial Norwich Western Link - and to pay millions more to cover rising costs of a second Norfolk road, it has emerged.
Supporters of the £251m Western Link road had already been handed a boost at the Conservative Party Conference, when it was named on a list of schemes which could benefit from a share of £36bn 'saved' by prime minister Rishi Sunak scrapping part of the HS2 rail link.
And now ministers have hinted they could be prepared to pay for the full cost of the road, rather than a proportion of it.
The government still needs to agree Norfolk County Council's business case for the 3.9-mile Western Link, which was submitted months ago.
The Conservative-led authority was hoping the government would provide 85pc of the bill for the road, which would connect the Northern Distributor Road to the A47.
But, in announcing that 70 road schemes - including the Western Link - will benefit from the scrapping of HS2, the government said "most" of those which get outline business case approval would get a 100pc contribution, rather than 85pc.
That would be music to the ears of leaders at County Hall, who have already spent close to £40m on the scheme and would have to borrow millions more if the government did not cover the full cost.
The Long Stratton bypass is also on the government's list of schemes - and council leaders would be delighted if that were also to get more Whitehall cash.
The government announced in 2021 that it would give £26.2m towards the cost of the two-and-a-half mile A140 bypass, only for the bill to subsequently rise from £37.4m to £46.2m.
Just last month, the Greater Norwich Growth Board - a partnership of Norfolk, Norwich, South Norfolk and Broadland councils - agreed to lend South Norfolk Council £4.5m to accelerate the construction of the bypass.
Norfolk County Council has yet to hear from the Department for Transport about what the government's change in tack might mean for its projects.
But Graham Plant, the council's cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure said: “It’s great to see important Norfolk infrastructure projects, including the Norwich Western Link, mentioned in the announcements about the government’s transport investment plans.
"We’re awaiting details from the Department for Transport and will update people when we know more."
But, critics have said the numbers simply do not add up. The government had said £180m would go to schemes in East Anglia, but the price tag of the Western Link alone would be at least £250m.
Steve Morphew, leader of the opposition Labour group branded the government's announcement as "a con". He said: "It feels like the government is saying these things knowing none will come to fruition before the next general election."
And Jamie Osborn, Green county councillor, said: "The Norwich Western Link is a white elephant if ever there was one.
"Hundreds of millions of pounds over budget, environmentally disastrous, and with financial and governance risks to the project stacking up, it hardly seems like a contender for government cash.
"It is time to scrap the Western Link project before any more money is wasted on it, and instead focus on accessible, affordable and reliable public transport across Norfolk."
Council leaders and business bosses say the road would bring an economic boost and cut congestion, but critics, including wildlife charities, say it would come at a devastating environmental cost.
Two more Norwich road schemes were included on the government's list - the West Winch access road and improvements to the A17 Pullover roundabout, both near King's Lynn.
Norfolk County Council cabinet members agreed last month to put forward a business case to the government for the West Winch access road.
It is hoped the £84m scheme will help alleviate traffic on one of Norfolk's most congested roads, while also allowing a bid to build 4,000 new homes to progress.
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