The project to create a new home for The Lights theatre has taken a major step forward this week as Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) has submitted a planning application to demolish the former Poundstretcher unit at the entrance to the Chantry Centre.
This is an exciting time for the town as the council continues to progress one of the key regeneration projects set out in the community-led masterplan, to which more than 4,000 people contributed their views about the changes they wanted to see in the town centre.
The new theatre will have a larger capacity to encourage many more theatregoers and community groups into the town, which in turn will support the local economy and encourage the High Street to thrive.
The former Poundstretcher unit was originally built and designed for commercial purposes, so to give Andover a state-of-the-art theatre with a multi-level auditorium, the existing unit must be demolished to allow for the development of a completely new building.
The application to demolish the unit will take around eight weeks to process and, if approved, the council will be looking for a construction contractor to start work in late spring 2025.
The council has contacted local businesses and residents to inform them of the application and will continue to communicate more detailed plans about the process as the project moves forward. As the demolition site will be contained the Chantry Centre entrance will remain open and there will be no disruption to West Street during the works.
Once the demolition application has been processed, the council will submit a separate application next year to construct the new theatre.
Leader of the council, Cllr Phil North said: “This is a major step forward in bringing a new theatre to Andover and delivering on the aspirations of the community. Next year we should see some major developments underway with the demolition of the existing unit.
“Since appointing national architects Burrell Foley Fischer earlier this year, we have been working closely with them to develop designs for the new venue and look forward to being able share more about this in the new year.”
Andover’s regeneration projects have been made possible with the award of government funding of £18.3million, which the new government has confirmed it will honour to support the redevelopment of the town.
The application reference is: 24/02692/FULLN
