Levelling up funds of £18.3 million have been awarded for a theatre and cultural hub in the centre of Andover.
The new venue, part of Test Valley Borough Council town centre masterplan for Andover, will replace The Lights and have a larger theatre and space for cultural and creative activities.
The scheme will be developed alongside Western Avenue Riverside Walk, an area awarded £6.5m of council funds earlier this year including £1m in developer contributions from Hampshire County Council (HCC).
The new venue will be at the entrance of the Chantry Centre, opposite the Guildhall.
Leader of the council, Cllr Phil North (pictured right with Kit Malthouse MP), said: “This is absolutely amazing news for Andover and will be transformational for our town – enabling us to accelerate the masterplan.
“It’s the result of a lot of hard work in putting our bid together and making the case with central Government. My huge thanks to our Member of Parliament, Kit Malthouse, who led the charge in Westminster. We wouldn’t have got the money without his strong advocacy and unwavering desire to get it over the line.
“Our efforts in developing a cultural programme of events and progressing with other aspects of our town’s redevelopment clearly shows that Andover is a place that is ready to move forward. We have a huge amount of experience in running a successful theatre with creative spaces and the new venue in the centre of town will become an invaluable asset for the local community.”
Mr Malthouse said: “I was so enthusiastic about the council’s brilliant masterplan that I was determined to do everything I could to get their bid over the line, and I’m so pleased that Andover has won this massive amount of money.
“It will make a huge difference to our town and is exactly the catalyst we need to start the much-needed reinvention of Andover town centre. Phil North and his team have shown exceptional leadership and vision, and they really deserve this win.”
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