Norfolk and Suffolk is to receive �12m to get building projects off the ground and stimulate economic growth.

The New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership has welcomed the Government's decision to create the �500m Growing Places Fund, which is aimed at getting the required infrastructure built to get stalled projects moving again and to enable the creation of new jobs and homes.

The fund will put local businesses and organisations in the driving seat, with the 38 local enterprise partnerships able to apply for the funding and then take decisions about what to prioritise locally.

Under the formula announced by Government, New Anglia's share of the Growing Places Fund is just over �12m.

Over the next few weeks New Anglia, which covers Norfolk and Suffolk, will be working with its partners in the public and private sectors to draw up proposals to make the best possible use of the funds being allocated to the area.

Andy Wood, chairman of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, said: 'We welcome the Government's decision to make these funds available to our area.

'Over the next few weeks we will be examining the guidance from Government on the use of these funds and ensuring that we make the most of this opportunity.

'We are already aware of projects that could benefit from this funding, and there will be more that we need to consider. What is important is that we put in place a transparent process for the allocation of this funding.'

Another local enterprise partnership, Greater Cambridge and Greater Peterborough, also covers the West Norfolk, Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury areas, and a slice of its �10m allocation will also be spent in that part of Suffolk and Norfolk.

No decisions have been taken about possible projects which could benefit and New Anglia will be looking for the proposals which will reap the best returns to be re-invested locally.

One example of a location which could be considered is the May Gurney and Deal Ground sites in Trowse, where there is an ambitious �100m scheme for almost 700 new homes plus a new marina on the River Wensum, with road, pedestrian and cycle bridges over the rivers Wensum and Yare.

Types of project could include strategic link roads and access works and flood storage and defence work.

Communities secretary Eric Pickles said: 'I now want to see these partnerships coming together and finding innovative ways to unlock local sites and help get Britain building again.'

New Anglia's website is www.newanglia.co.uk.