Plans for a new £29m leisure centre - complete with a swimming pool - will still be pursued, despite the government failing to back the scheme, say council leaders.
West Norfolk Council had hoped to secure £20m from the government's 'Levelling Up' fund to go towards the cost of the new centre, to replace Hunstanton's existing seafront Oasis centre.
But, while King's Lynn got £24m from the government for major changes to the Southgates area of the town, the borough council's bid for the Hunstanton centre cash was rejected.
However, Stuart Dark, leader of the Conservative-controlled council, said the setback would not dent the authority's ambitions for the scheme, which leaders have previously said would be "a state-of-the-art new leisure and entertainment centre".
He said: "The result of the Oasis bid is perhaps not surprising, given that it was the first time this bid had been submitted and bids rarely succeed at the first time of asking – indeed the Southgates bid did not succeed at the first try.
"I remain upbeat about this project – as I do about all the work we are doing in Hunstanton."
Mr Dark said the council would soon receive detailed feedback from the government about its bid, which would help determine the next steps for the scheme.
The council has said its preferred option for where the new leisure centre would be built is in the town’s Southend car park - next to the existing Oasis leisure centre.
At a council meeting in September, some councillors raised concerns that could have an impact on the availability of parking in the town.
The proposed new, two-storey building, is proposed to include a 25m six-lane swimming pool, smaller learner pool and a separate ‘splash pad’ for infants and toddlers.
The ground floor could also include a larger cafe than in the existing centre, as well as a four-rink bowling lawn.
The first floor would include two fitness studios and a cycle studio.
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