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Town's theatre to get new home

ThinkAndoverTownCentre A prototype image of the new theatre in Andover. People are walking around on a sunny day in front of the building that spells Lights Theatre in yellow and red letters. People are queuing in front of the building. On the opposite side, people are sitting at tables outside an eating place. A blue and white ice cream van is parked nearby and a group of people is standing in front of it.ThinkAndoverTownCentre
The new building is scheduled to be completed in 2026 and open in early 2027

A town's theatre is set to get a new home as part of a government levelling up award.

Test Valley Borough Council has appointed national architects Burrell Foley Fischer (BFF) to design and deliver the new building for cultural centre The Lights in Andover, Hampshire.

This comes after the town received £18.3m in the third round of levelling up funding to accelerate two priority regeneration projects in the town.

The new premises is planned to be completed over the next three years and open in early 2027.

ThinkAndoverTownCentre A theatre stage. Purple strobe light falls on an empty stage in front of a closed curtainThinkAndoverTownCentre
The venue would feature a "state-of the-art auditorium and modern spaces"

The Andover Masterplan, which was adopted by the council in 2020, sets out that the theatre would benefit from being positioned in a prime location with Andover bus station and the Chantry Centre car park.

The scheme will see the former Poundstretcher unit, located at the entrance to the Chantry Centre, demolished before a brand new theatre is constructed in its place.

The venue is expected to feature a "state-of the-art auditorium and modern spaces".

BFF architects has delivered a variety of performing arts venues, both across the country and internationally, and its portfolio includes designs for Winchester Theatre Royal and New Theatre Royal Portsmouth.

ThinkAndoverTownCentre From left to right Aidan Ridyard and Helen Grassly of BFF, councillor Phil North and councillor Kit Malthouse MP, outside of the location for the new theatre in Andover. They are smiling at the camera. The Chantry Centre is in the background. A woman with a pram appears to be speaking to another woman who is sitting on a round metal bench. A man is passing by a shop. ThinkAndoverTownCentre
BFF director Helen Grassly and councillor Phil North shared their excitement for the project that would "help transform Andover town centre"

Leader of the council Phil North said the panel of stakeholders who decided on the appointment had been "so impressed" with the quality of proposals though the procurement process.

"BFF in particular shone out for the quality of their work and extensive expertise in the cultural sector," he said.

BFF director Helen Grassly said their team looked forward to developing designs that contributed to the regeneration of the town centre and "whilst representative of the area and its history, provide a contemporary building for The Lights to expand their cultural and community offer”.

The team is "set to hit the ground running", with a planning application expected later this year.

Demolition and construction is scheduled to start in 2025, ahead of completion in 2026.

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