An ambitious project, centring on biodiversity and extinction, has received a pledge of £50,000 towards its development.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council joined forces with the Dorset LEP, Dorset County Council and private benefactors to award funds to ‘The Journey’ – formerly known as the Mass Extinction Monitoring Observatory (MEMO) project – which aims ‘to build an inspiring global memorial on the spectacular cliffs on Portland’.

Project director Sebastian Brooke said the funding was ‘fantastic’ and would be put towards completing the project’s preliminary work.

Mr Brooke said: “It’s famously hard times for councils so our expectations weren’t high so we are delighted that they have given us the funds.”

The project, which was confirmed in 2010, was originally designed as a spiral stone tower on the cliff edge. 

But limited funding has prompted a revised scheme built within the Albion Stone mines and focuses on the broader ‘umbrella subject’ of biodiversity. 

“What Albion have created is an absolutely amazing space that’s 30 foot high, if you can imagine it. It looks like something from an Indiana Jones set,” Mr Brooke said. 

Mr Brooke added as the space already existed it would help with cost reduction.

“We have done a geo-technical report on the mine and drawn up blueprints for a permanent site which will be suitable for a tourism use,” he said. 

The spiral stone tower, Mr Brooke said, was still the long term aspiration and the project was now in partnership with the Eden Project in Cornwall. 

The Royal Society-backed project will be a key part of the economic development of Portland. It is estimated the project will attract 325,000 visitors a year and create 79 full-time year-round jobs plus an ongoing programme for 30 apprentices in the Portland community.

Mr Brooke said the choice of site on the Jurassic Coast was the perfect setting due to its rich history and scientific significance. 

“That’s why we wanted this epic site. It’s the perfect stage set for talking about the ultimate point of our project,” he said. 

He added, although ‘hard to fathom’, the rate of species extinction happening right now was equivalent to the huge scale extinction that happened 65 million years ago, resulting in dinosaurs being wiped out. 

Cllr James Farquharson, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s spokesman for economic development said: “We are excited about the prospect of adding a new attraction to the area. This will be a unique experience. As well as the clear economic benefit to residents, we expect this to become a major tourist attraction as a centre for learning.”

The project is expected to be open to the public in spring 2020.