For the past year, Test Valley Borough Council has been making plans for how they want to transform the High Street in the coming decade.

Having purchased the Chantry Centre, the stage was set for a wholesale regeneration of the town, which has now been unveiled.

As the viewer floats down the High Street, they pass historic buildings like the Guildhall nestled amongst its new modern neighbours. With the Chantry Centre demolished, a new shopping, housing and office building has risen to take its place, while new streets connect to the rest of the town.

The new Chantry Centre quarter also sees a new home for The Lights theatre, right in the heart of town, so attendees can easily visit the many restaurants and bars Andover has to offer. 

It forms one side of a new square for the town, which the council hopes will help people stay for longer in the town centre. 

The leader of Test Valley Borough Council, councillor Phil North, said: “I am so excited to finally be able to share our plans for the future of Andover. This is the culmination of a huge amount of hard work and I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has been involved with this project, including all those who took the time to respond to the surveys and in particular the amazing teams at HemingwayDesign and NEW masterplanning for sharing my passion and vision for the town and believing in its potential.

“Town centres are changing. They are becoming more of a place for leisure and living as well as retail – and everyone’s efforts have helped create a plan to ensure Andover town centre is fit for the future. 

“Of course, the hard work doesn’t end here, rather this marks the beginning of a huge project to create a new era for Andover - and our next step will be to identify a developer partner, or an alternative delivery mechanism, to bring these plans to life. 

“We’re living in extraordinary times but I firmly believe that regeneration remains the key to recovery and I am absolutely committed to taking this forward as quickly as possible.” 

For more details of the plans, click here.