A multi-million-pound project to celebrate north Norfolk's Deep History Coast could be promoted with funding from North Norfolk District Council.
A report setting out the options for investing £500,000 in support of the area's tourism economy will be considered by North Norfolk District Council's Cabinet on Monday, June 5.
The recommendation is for Cabinet to ask the Council for the funding and to work with parish councils, businesses and community groups to identify the key elements of the bid that could be provided.
In April, a £2m funding bid to the Coastal Communities Fund for an ambitious 'Deep History Coast' project to showcase North Norfolk's unique coastal archaeological and historical features and boost the local economy was not successful.
But the council's commitment to the project vision could now be taken forward with £500,000 of council funding to generate tourism all year round.
The report estimates that the Deep History Coast has the potential to generate an additional 700,000 plus visitors to the area and bring £35m in revenue to the area's economy.
Councillor Tom FitzPatrick, Leader of North Norfolk District Council, said: 'Our coastline has an amazing story to tell and we will continue to explore ways of using that to improve facilities and attract investment to the area.
'The Deep History Coast project will be taken forward and this is the first step on that journey.'
From the Happisburgh footprints to the West Runton mammoth, the local authority had planned to develop a new discovery trail between Weybourne and Cart Gap to celebrate the area's history.
NNDC's original plans included the creation of a new geology hub in Cromer and improved toilet facilities at West Runton and Cart Gap, alongside new exhibition space.
A report being presented to councillors states: 'This report sets out a variety of possible alternatives to the recommended proposal, from abandoning the project to re-submitting it to the Coastal Community Fund later this year.
'The recommended approach seeks to balance the desire to progress elements of the project in a timely manner with the cost of the project and the likelihood of attracting external funding.
'It is regrettable that an application to the Coastal Community Fund was unsuccessful but, given the resources that have been committed towards the project thus far, and the widespread support for it from a range of stakeholders, appropriate alternative means of delivering the project should be pursued, including utilising the Council's own capital reserves and applying to other external funding sources to deliver elements of it.'
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