STUDENTS at Worcester College of Technology are incorporating one of the city's most exciting new homes developments into their HNC courses in building skills.

Bryant Homes' Diglis Water will form part of the coursework, with the pupils required to design their own mock plans for a college building to be constructed on the site.

Programme area manager for technology Paul Grainger said: "The course is designed to take students through the whole planning process, just like a developer would do, including liaising with planning officers, considering environmental issues and integrating the design with the surroundings. I chose Diglis Water because it is one of the most expansive construction projects in the city and would give our students the most stimulation and challenges.

"With the mix of residential homes and leisure facilities, plus the site being among canal and river areas, there's plenty for them to consider when creating their plans."

The students attend the two-year course on a part-time basis, with many of them already employed in the construction industry. Bryant Homes has welcomed the students on a number of site visits to assist with their studies.

Senior sales manager Stephen Cleveley said: "It's satisfying to see our development being studied as an example of exciting modern construction. We're glad to see new talent attracted to the industry and are happy to help them in any way we can."

Diglis Water is a 26-acre development encompassing restoration of the canal basins and riverbanks. Once complete, it will provide about 420 homes, as well as retail units, shops, cafs, restaurants and a fitness centre.