There is no guarantee that these schemes will eventually receive government funding, as that will depend on their business case and whether councils can demonstrate that there will be a significant economic return for the cost of construction.

Schemes that can draw in funding from other sources may also stand a better chance.

Yet these will be the main projects that local councils, MPs and business and transport groups will be working on and lobbying the government for over the next few years.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said projects that would help generate economic growth and open up land for housing will be at the forefront for consideration.

The transport secretary has decided not to fund widening works to the A12 in Essex, between Chelmsford and Marks Tey, telling MPs that the £1.2bn project was too expensive.

"Only projects that are fully costed, affordable and deliver a return on taxpayers' money will be given the green light under my watch," she told MPs.

She also dropped a proposed upgrade of the A47 at Wansford near Peterborough.

She said: "We are already investing over £500m on improvements to the A47 corridor [in Norfolk].

"It is just not feasible to support further investment at this time."

Both decisions have been criticised by local business groups and the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce accused Alexander of "a significant strategic blunder".

Neither scheme has made it onto the department's "under consideration" list.

MPs have pointed out that the East of England has recently received money for Sizewell C, the Lower Thames Crossing and East West Rail.

The new list suggests that there could be other big road projects in the east in line for funding if the region can make the case for them.