A MINIATURE model of Poole town centre is being used as a visual aid to help revitalise the town.

A team from AUB Architecture has designed and made a 1:200 scale model of the area of the town covered by the Business Improvement District (BID)including Poole High Street, the Old Town and Poole Quay.

This has been collated together with detailed technical drawing surveys, future visions for Poole, photographs of the existing conditions in Poole.

The aim is to use this model as a starting point of the BID's five year business plan to revitalise the town centre.

BID director Gaby Naish said: “Poole has declined both as a retail and visitor destination over the last 20 years and major intervention is needed to reverse this.

"The BID aims to bring back the traditional life and vitality of the high street which will attract crowds as in the past.

"It is exciting to have this opportunity to work with such talented students.”

Anete Egle, Oddur Gunnarsson Bauer, Jacob Palmer, Adam Radwanski and Elizabeth Winchester were the five students from AUB who worked on the project.

Adam Radwanski said: "The model has allowed people to view and understand the whole town from a completely unique perspective.

"It is already apparent how well this model achieves its goal of starting conversation and debate concerning the improvement of Poole.

"This piece can easily be considered as a tool to show weaknesses in the town as well as being able to be adjusted to show potential improvement strategies.”

AUB Architecture will continue its collaboration with Poole BID in the upcoming next phases of its plans and strategies.

David Segelman, director of Red Chilli Architects who is also involved with the BID said: “It was clear that the town centre was facing increasing competition from neighbouring towns and cities and that the economic, leisure and cultural heart of the Borough needed to be reinvigorated and make long term plans for rejuvenation.

"Through this partnership with the AUB, Poole BID is actively looking at enabling change, and improving the offering of Poole Town Centre.”