The project, a joint venture between Veolia and French process contractor CNIM, will create around 250 jobs when work gets underway early next year.

Clugston Construction managing director Steve Radcliffe said: “It has taken some time to reach this stage but we look forward to continuing our association with all the companies in the bidding team and building on our track record in this specialist market.”

In 2006, Clugston completed work on the £30m civils element of an energy-from-waste plant in Sheffield and is preferred bidder for a further four EfW contracts, each worth £30m to £40m.

A decision on a Lincolnshire plant is also expected very soon.

Radcliffe said: “From our point of view this is very important. If we look back to 2007/8 we were basing our position on the academies framework and energy-from-waste plants, so it is very important to us, a fundamental part of our business.

“If we are fortunate enough to get this and the next one, it would be excellent.”

After a two-year procurement period, the project will run for 25 years and will manage more than 300,000 tonnes of waste a year.

Staffordshire County Council leader Philip Atkins said: “The contract will save Staffordshire taxpayers more than £250m over the next 25 years.

“This contract is all about protecting taxpayers from escalating costs and protecting the environment from mounting piles of rubbish.”