The Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset, is set to embark on a £16m redevelopment project.

The Heritage Lottery Funded revamp, called At Close Quarters, will create an 8,000sq m (18,000sq ft) display hall to house the museum’s collection of tanks, in addition to an improved arena and exhibits.

Norwest Holst’s design shows the display hall as a quarter circle squeezed inbetween the attraction’s existing buildings.

The Winchester-based construction company created the Ondaatje Wing of the National Portrait Gallery in London and the RAF Museum in Hendon.

Director Richard Smith said: “This is an important milestone for the museum, as our new display hall will provide a world-class home for our world-class collection of tanks.

“The associated benefits of this project will see the facility reinforcing its place at the front rank of the world’s finest military museums.”

The facility will close from October to February 2008 for work on site. Completion is expected in May 2009, with new exhibitions being installed by autumn 2009.

The museum holds the world’s largest collection of tanks and armoured vehicles.