Plans for the controversial £274m Norwich Western Link road will be lodged within weeks, council leaders have confirmed.

Norfolk County Council's cabinet agreed in December to give the go-ahead for plans for the 3.9-mile-road to be lodged, but proposals have still not been submitted.

However, the council has revealed final checks are now being made to the plans for the road, which would link the Northern Distributor Road to the A47 west of Norwich, ahead of proposals being lodged with County Hall's own planning committee.

Eastern Daily Press: Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transportGraham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Graham Plant, the Conservative-controlled council's cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said: "The team has been working hard over the last few months to finalise the planning application.

"They are now at the stage of doing some final checks and we should be in a position to submit it in the next few weeks.

"After a validation period, the planning authority will then publish the planning application documents online and run a statutory public consultation, so everyone will have the opportunity to examine the proposals and comment on them should they wish to."

The Department for Transport (DfT) last year committed £213m towards the Norwich Western Link.

But officials left the door open to award £38m more towards the road's £274m price tag, using money 'saved' by scrapping the northern section of the HS2 high-speed rail link.

However, despite discussions between County Hall and the DfT, the government has yet to confirm the extra cash, although council leaders insist they are "confident" that money will come.

The county council and supporters of the road, including businesses, say it will cut traffic congestion, reduce journey times, boost the economy and improve safety.

But critics say it will increase carbon emissions and damage habitats. Norfolk Wildlife Trust has raised concerns about the impact of the road, which includes a viaduct over the River Wensum, will have on bats and other wildlife.

The Labour and Green groups at County Hall, and some members of the Liberal Democrat group, are opposing the road, while the Stop The Wensum Link group was formed to fight it.

Eastern Daily Press: Norfolk County Council leader Kay Mason BilligNorfolk County Council leader Kay Mason Billig (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Kay Mason Billig, Norfolk County Council leader, has said she expects there will be a legal challenge against the project.