Students from Years 9 to 12 will work in groups to plan and create conceptual models and drawings of what they think a sustainable community should be like.

The sessions will be written into lesson plans for the autumn term and the entries will be judged on their use of “innovative planning and design ideas”.

The competition, Developing Sustainable Communities, has been launched by community interest company Enterprise Lowestoft, aided by engineering firm Arup.

Hazel Johnson, from Enterprise Lowestoft, said: “The students of today will be the ones who will live in and develop sustainable communities in the future. This competition will equip them with the skills and knowledge that they need to succeed in an ever-changing environment.”

Entries will be judged on their approach to sustainable and environmental design, quality of ideas and innovation, team work and idea presentation.

The successful team will win sports equipment for their school as well as becoming Sustainable Community Ambassadors, meeting with ministers and officials from the Department of Communities and Local Government to discuss their ideas.