A farmhouse on the route of the proposed £251m Norwich Western Link is to be bought by Norfolk County Council.

The owners of the two-acre Ringland property had the right to apply for the council to buy it from them, because it would be blighted by the 3.9-mile road.

They did so and members of the council's Conservative-controlled cabinet have agreed to use taxpayers' money to buy Low Farm, in The Street.

Eastern Daily Press: Low Farm is on the route of the Norwich Western Link roadLow Farm is on the route of the Norwich Western Link road (Image: Archant)

The site includes a four-bed detached farmhouse with gardens, a four-bed holiday let barn conversion and other buildings, including stables and a barn.

Eastern Daily Press: Low Farm in Ringland. Pic: Google MapsLow Farm in Ringland. Pic: Google Maps (Image: Google Maps)

READ MORE: Bill for Western Link soars by more than £50m

The price the council will pay has not been revealed. But purchases of less than £1.25m do not need cabinet approval, which would indicate the cost will exceed that amount.

Eastern Daily Press: Greg Peck, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for commercial services and asset managementGreg Peck, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for commercial services and asset management (Image: Norfolk Conservatives)

READ MORE: Norwich Western Link decision delayed due to uncertainty

Greg Peck, the county council's cabinet member for commercial services and asset management, said: "This property is directly affected by the proposed road and, as a result, the owners have the right to apply for their properties to be purchased due to blight."

He said a purchase price had been negotiated, while the owner was entitled to payments for home loss and disturbance costs - to come from the road's approved property acquisition budget.

Eastern Daily Press: A visualisation of the Norwich Western Link roadA visualisation of the Norwich Western Link road (Image: Norfolk County Council)

READ MORE: Western Link road 'would improve ambulance response times'

The council is still waiting to discover if the government will approve the business case and contribute 85pc of the cost of the road, to connect the Northern Distributor Road to the A47.

The cabinet was due to agree to submit a planning application this month, but paused that amid uncertainty, with critics doubtful the government will give the money.

Eastern Daily Press: Emma Corlett, deputy leader of the Labour group at Norfolk County CouncilEmma Corlett, deputy leader of the Labour group at Norfolk County Council (Image: Archant)

Emma Corlett, deputy leader of the opposition Labour group, said: "The fact we have ended up in a situation where they are having to say property has been blighted, yet the road may not go ahead, means they are saddling themselves with more expenditure."