The practices design for Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) includes a main auditorium and a secondary events space in a three-storey building structure, clad with stone.BFF was appointed by the local authority to the 4,253m scheme last year, following a competition launched in March 2024 for the 3.5 million job.Subject to approval, the new Andover theatre would be located on the site of the Chantry Centre shopping mall, which received a 900,000 overhaul by Child Graddon Lewis in 2016.AdvertisementBFFs proposed main auditorium is designed to hold 410-people while a second events space could accommodate between 120 to 350 people, thanks to retractable seating designed to accommodate live music, comedy and sit-down events.Overall, the new Andover theatre has capacity for up to 1,000 people at one time, significantly eclipsing the existing out of town arts and performance venue, The Lights, which it will replace when complete.Helen Grassly, director of BFF, said: It has been a real pleasure developing the design for the new theatre with the teams at The Lights and TVBC. We have been tasked with delivering something technically excellent with high-quality facilities for both professional and community users, while keeping the warm welcome and intimacy of the existing Lights.Grassly continued: Our new building makes the most of the town-centre site, with visible activity on the three public faades and a landscape design linking the High Street and the river Anton.The project follows an award of 18.3 million from the Levelling Up Fund and will include a series of wider public realm improvements and a redeveloped entrance to the Chantry Centre.AdvertisementPhilip North, leader of Test Valley Borough Council, said: With increased capacity we have a real opportunity to bring so many more people into the town and support the local economy. I encourage everyone to have a look at the designs online or pop into town to meet with the project team and find out more. These are very exciting times ahead and I cant wait to see the designs come to life.Completion is scheduled for 2027.In 2019, Hemingway Design and New Masterplanning won a contest to draw up a strategic development framework focusing on several sites in Andover including a former magistrates court and the outdated Chantry Shopping Centre .Hampshire-based consultancy Newsteer won acontract to complete a series of capacity and feasibility studiesexploring options for building out the new town centre regeneration masterplan in 2022.Project dataLocationAndoverLocal authorityTest Valley Borough CouncilType of projectNew build theatreClientTest Valley Borough CouncilArchitect Burrell Foley FischerLandscape architectStudio Knight StokoeTheatre and acoustic consultant CharcoalbluePlanning consultantThe Planning LabStructural engineerIntegral Engineering DesignM&E consultantE3 Consulting EngineersQuantity surveyor and project manager Ward WilliamsPrincipal designerBurrell Foley FischerMain contractor TBCFundingCentral Government and Local AuthorityTender dateTBCStart on site TBCGross internal floor area 4,253mForm of contract and/or procurement TBCTotal cost TBC