PLANS to rejuvenate Poole’s Dolphin Shopping Centre have been drawn up by a group of final year students from Bournemouth University.

Retail management students presented their ideas to make it a more desirable shopping destination following a brief set by Borough of Poole economic development manager Adrian Trevett and Bournemouth University lecturer David Kilburn.

They presented three concepts to the centre manager and current owners, Legal and General Property, including senior asset manager Mark Harvey.

These were for a restaurant parade in the Falkland Square walkway, a shipping container market on Poole Quay and omni-channel retailing with a click-and-collect hub and home delivery service, where orders could be placed online by phone or at interactive hubs.

Adrian said the students were asked to consider an online and offline strategy.

“I am keen to try and push some of their ideas and I particularly liked the logo and slogan the students created for the project,” he said.

Centre manager John Grinnell said: “It was fantastic to see the students’ enthusiasm for the project, some of the ideas they put forward were really well thought out and very creative.

“They had a great understanding of the Poole community and had carried out extensive research for their project.”

They also suggested a biophilic (containing nature) theme for the town, using natural materials and incorporating Poole’s close proximity to the water.

The students felt their final year project was a worthwhile experience. Student Nicola Beattie said: “Everyone seemed to be impressed with our suggestions and we had fantastic feedback.”