Controversial plans to build a £90m waste incinerator on the outskirts of Norwich have moved a step closer after council bosses met behind closed doors to decide the scheme's future.

Controversial plans to

build a £90m waste incinerator on the outskirts of Norwich have moved a step closer after council bosses met behind closed doors to decide the scheme's future.

Norfolk County Council

has confirmed that the

Waste Recycling Group (WRG) had been sent a

letter formally recording where negotiations had reached and that work

would continue towards a contract award later this year.

As reported in the

EDP, there had been speculation that WRG's hopes of building the incinerator on the Longwater Industrial Estate at Costessey could have been dashed because of issues with the land.

It had been claimed the scheme was in danger because Drayton-based builder RG Carter had a covenant on the land restricting it to recycling

0and WRG was struggling to buy more land for its operation.

However, now the council has confirmed WRG as its choice to build the plant, which is scheduled to open by 2009/10.

The scheme has been proposed because if Norfolk does not cut its use of landfill, it could face hefty fines

from the Government in the future.