And Norfolk County Council officials have acknowledged that, if the government says no to the request, it could put County Hall in a difficult position.

The Conservative-controlled council has spent £55.5m on the scheme, which would have connected the A47 to the A1067 west of Norwich.

Original plans for the Norwich Western Link to connect the A47 to the A1067 were scrapped (Image: Denise Bradley)

But it withdraw plans for the 3.9-mile road after Natural England objected and signalled it would not award a licence needed to construct it, because of the presence of protected barbastelle bats.

While the

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