THE dream of a new civic centre to create a hub for the community in Tidworth has moved closer to becoming a reality.

The centre, which will replace the existing Tidworth Community Centre at Wylye Road, has been granted full planning permission by Wiltshire Council.

The project is estimated to cost about £3 million and is being driven forward by Tidworth Town Council.

Chairman of Tidworth Town Council and town mayor, Cllr Chris Franklin, said: "It will bring to the community an all encompassing hub."

The centre will be just south of the existing building and the community green would be retained in the western half of the site along with the car park.

Mr Franklin said: "It will be without a shadow of a doubt certainly the biggest thing the town council, parish councils and all those before us have undertaken.

"It will bring a big town/city like civic centre to Tidworth and give the ability to have registry office weddings and hold receptions there. It will give people that ability — serving and non serving in the community."

The purpose-built council chamber will double up as a registry office and the building will be able to host small conferences and have meeting rooms.

The new centre plans to have rentable office suites and help desks to help local enterprises as well as a cafe.

The council have to finalise the funding and the project will go out to consultation and tender.

Mr Franklin says it will be a "long process" adding: "Our hope is that people would see it [building] start towards the end of this year.

"We have the planning now we do the rest. We know we can get it done. We have done our homework to get us where we are now and will deliver."

Mr Franklin says the new centre will compliment other facilities in the town including the Garrison Theatre. "It will certainly bring something to Tidworth that it has been always missing."