Twelve projects, which council bosses say have the potential to boost Norfolk's economy, are to get a share of £1.5m.

The pilot projects include the development of a seaweed industry, a centre to help create digital video games and a study into how to better insulate thousands of homes across Norfolk.

Norfolk County Council's Conservative-controlled cabinet agreed, at a meeting on Monday (March 6) to pump the money, generated from business rates, into a dozen projects.

Eastern Daily Press: A new digital centre aims to find the games developers of the future. Pic: Simon FinlayA new digital centre aims to find the games developers of the future. Pic: Simon Finlay (Image: Simon Finlay)

The projects, part of the Norfolk Investment Framework, are:

  • The development of a seaweed industry, potentially near Wells, to support food, fertilisers, animal feed, biofuels and bioplastics
  • The Wayland Digital and Creative Media Centre in Watton, to improve skills and encourage start-up businesses
  • Investigating water storage and desalination
  • Supporting recruitment and retention of skills tutors for colleges
  • Investigating the development of a rooftop solar panel network across greater Norwich
  • A feasibility study on retrofitting homes to maximise energy efficiency
  • Creating up to six net zero communities
  • Developing a clean hydrogen strategy for the Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor
  • Finding ways to decarbonise agri-food and land management
  • Paying for more rural electric vehicle charging points
  • Working with Aviva and the Norwich Financial Industries Group to boost Norwich and Norfolk’s profile as a fintech (financial technology) cluster
  • A project to improve digital access, skills and attainment

Eastern Daily Press: Norfolk county councillor Fabian Eagle. Pic: Norfolk County CouncilNorfolk county councillor Fabian Eagle. Pic: Norfolk County Council (Image: Swaffham Town Council)

The council invited organisations to put forward business cases for projects. Those were then appraised and whittled down to the successful projects.

Fabian Eagle, cabinet member for growing the economy, said he particularly welcomed the money for the Wayland centre in Watton's High Street.

He said it would give young people in rural areas skills and training in the digital and creative media sector.

Mr Eagle said: "Gaming is a growing industry. You think it's something little on your mobile phones, but that provides more money from the UK than the film industry.

"We have a vibrant centre in Norwich, but this will take it into rural areas and make it more accessible to youngsters."