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The government conservation advisory body decided to confer \u201cfavourable conservation status\u201d on Barbastelle bats in the region last March just days before the application was due to be submitted.<\/p>\n
The council has been trying to reach a solution with Natural England ever since but has now \u201cexhausted all options.\u201d<\/p>\n
Norfolk said it will now withdraw the planning application for the scheme which has government funding and was awarded to Ferrovial in 2021.<\/p>\n
Ferrovial Construction has now been stood down despite most of the design work being completed.<\/p>\n
Around \u00a356m has already be spent advancing the scheme.<\/p>\n
Council chiefs will now hope to strike a deal with Department of Transport chiefs as the government looks to prioritise construction and weaken the influence of environmental quangos.<\/p>\n
Cllr Graham Plant, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure said: \u201cIt was right for us to leave no stone unturned in relation to Natural England\u2019s stance on our proposals.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will write to them again hoping to get answers to our unanswered questions but at present, we have exhausted all our options in relation to this, so we have made the difficult decision to withdraw the current planning application and prioritise discussions with the Department for Transport (DfT) on the way forward for the project.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know the withdrawal of the planning application will be immensely disappointing and frustrating news to many of you, including all the individuals, businesses and communities in Norfolk who have been telling us for years that a solution must be found to the transport issues and growing traffic congestion to the west of Norwich.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can reassure you that the Norwich Western Link remains a priority project for this council.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope to have discussions with DfT shortly to agree the way forward and reach a good outcome.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government has said it is keen to enable economic growth and deliver infrastructure, so we have shared goals, which gives us confidence that we can reach a good solution together.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n