INSPIRATIONAL designs for Weymouth and Portland development are set be displayed by aspiring architects.

Next month, residents will have the opportunity to view cutting edge planning ideas for the area as architect students from Bath University display their work at Wey Valley School.

As part of the fourth year of their course, students are given a real site to research and design a brief to meet local needs, with the most recent cohort focusing on our very own stretch of the south coast.

Whilst the students design these projects each year unbeknown to local councillors and planners, this year the work will go on display thanks to Weymouth mother, Diane Day.

She said: "My daughter studied architecture at Bath University and when I went to her exhibition I discovered Weymouth and Portland would be the next research area. I felt it was work that needed to be exhibited in Weymouth for our local residents and planners to see and Wey Valley School has kindly allowed me to use the Will Mackaness Hall.

"Quite often these aspiring designers come up with solutions that could offer real benefits to the local community. Students came up with plans that were both thought provoking and wide ranging in their approach to local requirements.”

Standout designs included piers, nature reserves and viewing towers.

The winning design was a large carved block in the sea which could be accessed by ferries and featured a series of ledges, designed to host a variety of seabirds, on the outside.

Martin Gledhill, director of studies at Bath University, said, "I am grateful to Wey Valley School for giving the local community the chance to view so many wonderful ideas for Weymouth and Portland.

“The students were asked to include in their projects a grandstand and pier for watching sailing events as well as a ‘museum of the sea’.

“In many cases this brief was challenged and, as a result, the designs include boat workshops, nature reserves and exhibitions of the various shipwrecks in the area.

“All in all, the students were enchanted by the Isle of Portland and we hope the public feel similarly about their designs."

As well as encouraging town development, it is hoped that the exhibition will inspire youngsters to take up further education.

Sara Adams, principal at Wey Valley, said, "A number of our students go on to study at Bath University, and we are very happy to host this exhibition of work. Not only is it of interest to local residents but it is also an inspiration to any local students with an interest in Art and Design and we hope that they will take this opportunity to come along and learn how they might extend their current studies".

The free exhibition will take place from 10.30am to 3.30pm on Saturday, November 5.

Any local students who wish to view the exhibition on Friday, November 4, and use the opportunity to speak with Mr Gledhill should email Diane on DayD@weyvalley.dorset.sch.uk.