Millions of pounds will be spent revamping an enterprise park in an effort to create up to 1,500 jobs.
Norfolk County Council has approved plans to improve buildings at the enterprise park at the former RAF Coltishall air base.
County Hall approved the plan to provide a further £8.6m towards a £12m investment in the refurbishment of Scottow Enterprise Park, which is owned by the authority.
Andrew Jamieson, cabinet member for finance, said the scheme would create "up to 1,500 jobs".
His colleague Bill Borrett described it as a “golden circle” that would see public money used to create jobs while making a profit for the county council.
Some of the money will come from a pot of Enterprise Zone cash provided by the government, which can only be spent at Scottow.
The council will also borrow about £5m and, at a time when the authority is making £60m of cuts and savings, opposition councillors have questioned the wisdom of racking up further debts.
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