Work has started on the demolition of the Civic Hall building in Guildford, Surrey, which will make way for the construction of the town's new multi-purpose entertainment venue.

Hertfordshire-based contractor Willmott Dixon Construction has been appointed to deliver the new Civic, which will boast a 1,000 seated capacity or a 1,700 standing capacity and will feature a main auditorium, two function rooms and five seminar rooms. Designs for the Civic have been drawn up by London-based architects, Austin-Smith:Lord. The centre will host a range of music, comedy and family performances, as well as providing conference facilities and space for trade fairs.

Construction work on the new venue is expected to start in the autumn and Willmott Dixon Construction anticipates that the internal fit-out can get underway within 12 months. The facility is expected to be completed in autumn 2011. Guildford Borough Council has been seeking to replace the outdated Civic Hall building for after it closed in January 2004, having first opened in 1962.