Three plots of land are going to be seized by council bosses so the finishing touches can be made to a £820,000 scheme to revamp a footpath and cycle lane.
Norfolk County Council is ready to use legal powers to obtain the land in Bowthorpe, on the edge of Norwich, so the project can go ahead.
The Conservative-controlled council has been making changes to Mayfly Way using a slice of the £32m awarded to the authority through the government's Transforming Cities initiative.
Work has already been done on the stretch of the route from Harpsfield to Barnard Road, including a segregated footpath and cycleway.
But the final 200 metres, to link up with Dereham Road and Richmond Road, is not wide enough to allow that footpath and cycleway to continue - so extra land is needed.
The county council wants to obtain three plots of overgrown grass verge next to the existing path, measuring 471m2, 196m2 and 41m2.
Two of the plots are unregistered, but one is in private ownership. Attempts by the council to agree a deal with the owner to sell it have not been successful.
While the council would rather agree a deal, it is ready to use compulsory purchase powers, which would enable to it obtain the land, with compensation payable to the owner.
Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said: "The completed project on Mayfly Way aims to improve safety for those travelling on foot or by bike along this popular route, which connects to the Green Pedalway and links the Bowthorpe employment area with the city centre and beyond.
"We are now in the process of securing the land needed to deliver this important scheme, which will benefit the many people who currently walk or cycle through the area."
The council says it cannot reveal how much the process could cost, but that the second phase of the Mayfly Way scheme has a budget of £150,000.
HOW CAN A COUNCIL GRAB LAND IT DOES NOT OWN?
The county council recently went through a similar land acquisition process as part of the Heartsease roundabout revamp.
It transpired the council did not own two patches of land on either side of Harvey Lane needed for a cycle lane and footpath in the £4.4m scheme.
Greene King was later identified as the owner of two plots outside the Heartsease pub and a compulsory purchase order was served for the council to buy them from the brewery.
The authority staked a claim for the other section near the former Lloyd's bank site as it is unregistered and no legal owner has been identified.
The council is also involved in a similar process for land off Dereham Road, between New Costessey and Bowthorpe, where it needs a small area of land for a cycleway and footpath.
Under the 1980s Highways Act councils can acquire land for the construction or improvements of a highway.
If someone were to come forward who could legally prove they owned the land, then the council would agree to compensate them for taking it from them.
Over 85pc of land in England and Wales has a registered owner but if it is found to be unregistered with the HM Land Registry, anyone can apply to take possession of it.
But if somebody comes along within a 12-year time frame and says it is their land, they can claim it back providing they have valid evidence to prove it.
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