An Anglo-US waste consortium hoping to build a controversial incinerator on the edge of King's Lynn has awarded a civil engineering contract for the scheme, it was announced today.

Cory Wheelabrator has selected Shipdham-based BAM Nuttall to carry out the civil engineering work for the �500m scheme.

If Norfolk County Council approves the incinerator plan, the consortium has said more than 1,000 jobs could be created over the 32-month construction phase.

BAM Nuttall now wants to recruit subcontractors to deliver a number of the project's engineering requirements, including piling and associated foundations, steelworks, cladding and ground works.

If built, the Willows power and recycling centre on the Saddlebow industrial estate would be capable of treating up to 268,000 tonnes of household and commercial waste from across Norfolk every year.

Norfolk County Council selected Cory Wheelabrator as its preferred bidder to construct the incinerator in March last year, despite a borough council poll which showed 65,000 people in West Norfolk were against it.

David Brothers, business development manager at BAM Nuttall, said: 'We are very pleased to have been selected to deliver the civil engineering work for the proposed Willows power and recycling centre at King's Lynn.

'We are liaising with existing suppliers of goods and building service, but we're also keen to speak with firms from across Norfolk and the eastern region about a range of subcontracting opportunities.'

It comes after Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman announced last Wednesday that she had approved �91m in Waste Infrastructure Grant funding towards the cost of the plant.

West Norfolk council is currently preparing to apply for a judicial review, claiming Ms Spelman broke her own guidelines in awarding the money because there is not a 'broad consensus of support' for an incinerator.

Anti-incinerator campaigners last month attempted to secure a judicial review into the process by which the county council agreed to award a contract to waste company Cory Wheelabrator but a High Court judge dismissed their attempt.

Paul Green, speaking on behalf of the Cory Wheelabrator consortium added: 'We are delighted to make this appointment as we're committed to working with local businesses.

'This is just the start of numerous contract awards which we hope will be available to local businesses in the future.

'I'd urge all businesses interested in working with us to get in touch as soon as possible. We will shortly be hosting two business open days at the Eco-Tech Centre in Swaffham, where business leaders can find out more about the project, the skills and experience we are looking to hire.'

The open days are being held on Thursday from 4pm to 8pm and Friday from 7.30am to 10pm. The registration deadline is tomorrow morning. To register an interest in the project, e-mail info@willowsprc.co.uk