Vi-GO! Park set for £3.5M transformation as council green lights investment
Vigo Park in Andover will become home to a brand-new water play attraction, new modern bowls clubhouse, refreshment kiosk and public toilets as Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) approved a £3.5M investment at a meeting on Wednesday 3 December.
The decision follows extensive community engagement and planning where residents shared their aspirations for the site.
The new facilities will be installed to the south side of the current bowling green, alongside wider landscaping to transform the site and enhance the park’s accessibility.
TVBC will work with residents, access groups, families, and event organisers in early 2026 to finalise designs for the site. Subject to planning consent, construction will begin in autumn 2026, with completion planned for autumn 2027.
The project is part of the council’s commitment to regenerate Andover town centre and deliver priorities identified in the Andover Masterplan and Vigo Park Management Plan, boosting visitors to the town centre.
It follows the opening of the accessible new play park at Vigo earlier this year, shaped with local community groups, Koala and Purple Oak. While the original plan was to link the water play with the new park, investigations showed that the costs to connect the water supply were significantly higher than expected and would have resulted in fewer play facilities. As a result, the council made the decision to link it to the new clubhouse, which provides a better, more accessible location.
Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, Councillor Phil North, said: “This is hugely exciting for Andover, and I am delighted that my councillor colleagues backed the proposal. Vigo Park is already well-loved but has the potential to be a tremendously valuable asset to the town.
“I look forward to seeing this project progress at pace over the coming months, transforming Andover for decades to come.”
Councillor Iris Andersen, ward member for Andover St Mary’s, added: “This is such wonderful news and I am so pleased that this is going ahead. This will benefit our entire community and I am absolutely delighted we are going to be delivering on the things that lots of people have told me they’d like to see in the park.”
Vigo Park is one of many projects the council is bringing forward as part of its approach to securing long-term benefits for communities across Test Valley. Backed by council in July, existing community support across the borough is being boosted with additional funding of up to £10 million for projects including enhancing parks and open spaces, working alongside the NHS to improve people’s health and wellbeing, and working with residents to upgrade community facilities.