THIS is the first glimpse of the latest plans for the Science Museum after its hoped-for £64m upgrade.

The Inspired project will create a world-class attraction and will be environmentally friendly with energy provided by renewable sources, a super-insulated structure, and a sympathetic design blending in with the surrounding landscape.

A complete overhaul of the 545-acre Second World War airfield site in Wroughton will take place if funding becomes available.

It is one of six schemes shortlisted for the award by the Big Lottery Fund.

The successful project will be chosen by ITV viewers in a programme to be screened in December.

Other shortlisted entries include projects from the Eden Centre, in Cornwall, the Sustrans national cycle route network and the Black Country Urban Park. The funding is vital to secure Inspired's future as a new type of interactive museum.

Carl Tagoe, 42, of OC Architects, in William Street, has been an architect for 10 years and thinks the plans are impressive.

He said: "The site is underused so there is room there for this plan to be utilised.

"It looks quite pretty. Swindon could do with more landmark buildings so these plans could be the answer.

"Swindon also lacks a bit of culture and this museum could go a long way to installing some of that."

Inspired, which is due to open in 2010, will be an important stimulus for young people.

Martin Earwicker, the Science Museum's director, said: "Inspired will house irreplaceable pieces of science history and science future that belong and should be accessible to everyone.

"It's about making science fun and inspiring future generations of scientists, inventors, and entrepreneurs to step up to the challenges of our world."

At the moment the Science Museum can show just eight per cent of its exhibits at a time.

At Inspired, visitors will be able to spend days immersing themselves in 250,000 previously unseen exhibits, designing and building robots, hot air balloons, and even a solar-powered car, and enjoying interactive spectacular shows, acrobatics, and huge displays in cutting-edge indoor and outdoor arenas.

Visit www.voteinspired.

org.uk or text "SMS Inspired" to 88833 for the latest news on the project.