TWO major plans are in the pipeline to upgrade facilities at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy for the Olympic sailing events in 2012.

The first includes the reclamation of land from Portland Harbour in order to extend the existing slipways and boat parking areas.

Parallel to this is a second scheme affecting land immediately next to and to the south east of the academy for a new marina.

Planners say both are major applications supported by environmental statements which they are due to consider next month at their meeting on June 27.

Before that this Wednesday's meeting of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's planning and traffic committee will deal with three smaller schemes affecting the academy, all of which are being recommended for approval.

Land off the beach road is being proposed for vehicle-only parking between April 30, 2008-October 31, 2008. Planners will be told that this scheme needs approval because, if they grant the marina proposal next month, then land currently used by the academy for overflow car parking, camper vans and caravans would be lost to marina-related buildings and would need to be replaced.

Permission is also sought with a second application for another site off the beach road to provide parking from April 30, 2008-March 30, 2010, again because of the loss of parking land should the marina development be granted.

The third academy application to go before next week's meeting involves land at the Mere Tank Farm being used as a vehicle, boat parking and boat maintenance area.

Members will be given a report which says: 'The proposed uses will facilitate the needs of watersports-marine leisure users on adjoining land.' The meeting is being asked to approve the first two schemes subject to conditions including timing, site restoration, flood warning signage and a detailed car parking layout.

Councillors will also be asked to approve the third application subject to conditions which include development not going ahead until details of proposed drainage works have been submitted.

Checks are also required to ensure that risks from soil contamination to future occupants of the development and neighbouring occupiers are minimised.