BOVINGTON Tank Museum has approved a £10 million contract to design and build a massive new display hall at the popular attraction.

The 18,000 sq ft structure is a key element of the museum's £16 million At Close Quarters redevelopment project sponsored by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

It will be designed and built by Norwest Holst who will also rebuild and significantly improve the museum's tank arena and other external facilities.

Director Richard Smith said: "This is an important milestone for the museum as it means that building work on our new display hall will now begin to provide a world-class home for our world-class collection of tanks. We are delighted to be working with Norwest Holst and we are looking forward to opening the new building to the public in 2009."

Norwest Holst regional director Andrew Nicholson said: "We have a proven track record in the successful delivery of public and leisure facilities of all kinds including the award-winning Ondaatje Wing of the National Portrait Gallery in London and the RAF Museum in Hendon.

"The experience and expertise gained through the delivery of these and other similar projects throughout the country will be reflected in the capability that Norwest Holst's Winchester office brings to the delivery of the tank museum's new display hall."

The hall has been designed as a quarter circle which fits between the existing buildings and the curve of the road forming part of the site boundary.

Its architecture is minimalist and functional, featuring a radial saw-tooth roof to provide natural daylight while the hall will be heated by overhead radiant panels and ventilated by displacement from below the slab.

A control tower will provide the point of control and monitor safety for activities involving tanks in the external arena.

The museum will continue to be open throughout the construction period except for a short time between October 2007 and February 2008. Construction work is set to be complete in May 2009 with new exhibitions installed by autumn 2009.

When complete, the At Close Quarters redevelopment project will provide better environmental conditions for the conservation and preservation of the world's best collection of tanks.

Improved displays and exhibitions with new amenities will enhance the visitor experience and, with more space, the museum will be able to display more of its unique artefacts publicly.

Mr Smith said: "The associated benefits of this project will see the tank museum reinforcing its place at the front rank of the world's finest military museums."

Bovington attracts 115,000 visitors annually to see its majestic collection which ranges from the first tank ever built to the modern Challenger II tank.

The At Close Quarters project aims to give the museum a more spacious and welcoming building with room to understand and enjoy the scale and scope of the collections.

There will also be new exhibitions from social and political history to science and technology and a new, more visually impressive and flexible arena.