WORK to transform Andover town centre by building a multi-purpose theatre and a cultural hub is likely to start within the next two years, the leader of the Test Valley Borough Council has said.

The news comes after the council has been awarded £18.3m in government funding, which must be spent by March 2026.

The major funding has come from round three of the Government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF). The new venue will replace The Lights with a larger theatre and space for cultural and creative activities.

The funding allocated to Andover means the council can accelerate the masterplan to transform the town centre.

READ MORE: Government awards £18.3m for new theatre in Andover

The leader of the council, Cllr Phil North has said that the money will be used to build a new theatre and cultural hub at the current entrance of The Chantry Centre, opposite the Guildhall replacing The Lights theatre.

He said: "It is a massive achievement for Andover it is really the biggest news I have ever dealt with. We have to spend the money by March 2026 so that is a very short time frame. It just over two years to complete the projects."

The money will also be used for the development of the Western Avenue Riverside Walk, to which £6.5m of council funds were allocated earlier this year, which included £1m in developer contributions from Hampshire County Council (HCC).

Cllr North was unable to give an exact date for the development to start and said work is still being done to finalise ideas before planning applications are submitted. 

He told the Advertiser that there is only "a short window of time to complete the work" so applications should be submitted in the 'second half of next year'.

In terms of the cultural hub the Advertiser was told that there will be 'at least a year of planning with work on the ground starting the following year'. While development on Western Avenue Riverside Walk is likely to take part in stages and work on the river could start as early as next summer or autumn. 

SEE ALSO: Andover Christmas Festival: Festive lights switched on

Cllr North added: "Where the cultural hub is going to go will push the entrance to the Chantry Centre back slightly but actually the vast majority of the Chantry Centre stays, so ultimately there isn't going to be a huge amount of business disruption at all."

He said all the businesses currently based in the shopping centre will be able to remain while work is being carried out.  

Cllr North added: "The new theatre is going to attract a wider variety of acts as well and it will be an enhanced theatre offer and build on the success of The Lights. It will have a real knock-on effect for businesses throughout the day and into the evening. It is truly transformational for Andover."

He said he hopes the new plans will also encourage more independent businesses into Andover and "make Andover vibrant throughout the day and into the evening". 

He continued: "The whole point in us embarking on this process in the first place is because we recognised that town centres are changing. For a place like Andover, its future is leisure and living but it's also independent retail and we have some fantastic independent businesses in Andover and we want to attract more."