The city council wants to drop a policy which could allow the controversial expansion of Eastcroft incinerator.

The London Road plant burns household waste and heats hundreds of homes and businesses in the city.

Owner WRG has applied to expand it, but was refused by the city council.

The company has already launched an appeal, saying the council's waste strategy has a policy allowing the expansion of the incinerator if environmental safeguards are met.

Now the city council is proposing to drop the policy, which could weaken WRG's appeal.

Senior city councillors meet on Tuesday to update the city and county waste local plan.

The new policy must then be approved by the Government.

The policy of favouring expansion of Eastcroft is likely to be the only key change, councillors will be told at the city council executive board meeting.

"To recommend saving the policy concerning Eastcroft incinerator would be inconsistent with previous decisions of the city council," says a report.

"It is therefore proposed that it be recommended to the Government Office of the East Midlands that this policy should de dropped."

If the policy goes it would seriously weaken WRG's argument at the planning appeal towards the end of this year.

Jon Beresford, of Nottingham Against Incineration and Landfill (Nail), which opposed the expansion plan, welcomed the council's proposal.

"This will certainly strengthen our case at the planning appeal," he said.

"But we'd like to see more from the city council. It needs to be recycling a lot more."

A spokesman for WRG said it was aware of the council's intentions but said: "It remains WRG's view that the expansion of Eastcroft has a vital role to play in delivering a sustainable solution to Nottingham's waste-management needs."

Coun Alan Clark said the Government's decision on whether Nottingham should drop its policy on Eastcroft's expansion would be made by the end of September, before WRG's planning appeal.

"If it is saved, it will be a main plank of WRG's case at appeal," he said.