There is now a 'high risk' of a 'significant' hike in the cost of the Norwich Northern Distributor Road, councillors have confirmed - but they remain tight-lipped about just how many millions could be added to the bill.

Norwich Evening News: The discussion about the extra costs of the Norwich Northern Distributor Road took place behind these closed doors. Pic: Archant.The discussion about the extra costs of the Norwich Northern Distributor Road took place behind these closed doors. Pic: Archant. (Image: Archant)

Delays and the need for changes to the work on the £178.5m road have pushed up the costs for the road, but the precise figures involved were discussed at a behind closed doors meeting yesterday.There is speculation that the extra costs could be as high as £20m, but councillors, who excluded the public and press from their discussions on the issue, have agreed to keep the figure under wraps.

They say it has to be kept secret for now because the council needs to negotiate with contractors Balfour Beatty in an attempt to keep the costs down.

The council says the public interest in keeping commercially sensitive information private exceeds the public interest in releasing it.

At yesterday's meeting, councillors were told how delays and changes, particularly around the Rackheath railway bridge, where design changes were needed because of Network Rail's requirements, mean more has potentially been added to the bill.

Norwich Evening News: Martin Wilby, chairman of Norfolk County Council's environment, development and transport committee. Pic: Norfolk Conservatives.Martin Wilby, chairman of Norfolk County Council's environment, development and transport committee. Pic: Norfolk Conservatives. (Image: Norfolk Conservatives)

Afterwards, committee chairman Martin Wilby issued a statement that members of all parties on the committee had given their full support to the road, which will stretch from the A47 at Postwick to the A1067 Fakenham Road, but 'agreed that there is now a high risk of a significant increase in cost beyond the £178.9m budget.'

He added: 'They stressed that the NDR project remains an essential investment in the future prosperity of Norfolk, and still offers very high cost benefits, with a return of over £4 for every £1 spent.

'Members nevertheless underlined the importance of ensuring the best possible value for the public purse, and gave their full backing to the director of community and environmental services in pursuing reductions in cost through every means, including robust and searching commercial engagement with the main contractor.

'They agreed that the figures would remain commercially sensitive and confidential while this work continued.'

When asked where extra money would come from, Mr Wilby said that would be a matter for full council.