Contracts have been signed between Aylesbury Vale District Council and the contractor, Willmott Dixon, giving the go-ahead for the main construction work to begin.

Cllr John Cartwright, Leader of the Council, will take the controls of a JCB on 22 July to mark the official start of the above-ground works.

The new complex for Vale residents will be called the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, taking its name from its setting next to the canal and the Bearbrook. The name emerged as the most popular choice among people who put forward suggestions at the invitation of the council.

The development on Exchange Street will be a cultural hub for Aylesbury and beyond with a 1,200-seat auditorium that converts into a 1,800-capacity hall, and a 220-seat suite for smaller events including dance, drama, meetings and conferences.

Work on the successor to the Aylesbury Civic Centre began in May last year. The foundations and the basement area have recently been completed, allowing Willmott Dixon to take possession of the site.

The ambitious multi-million pound theatre project is being funded by the district council. It is due to open early in 2010.

When the development is completed around 300,000 people from across the district and beyond are expected to visit the new venue each year to enjoy an exciting and diverse programme of live performances.

The theatre will be managed on the council's behalf by a commercial operator who will be appointed in the autumn. In the meantime, the Civic Centre will continue to offer a wide range of top entertainments, including the traditional Christmas pantomime, until at least the end of February 2009.

Cllr John Cartwright, Leader of the Council, said: "The signing of contracts with Willmott Dixon presses the button for the main construction works to begin. We are delighted to have reached this stage of the project and look forward to working with the contractors on the next phase of the construction. This is a magnificent project for local people and they should be very excited about what will be a wonderful new theatre."

Mike Hart, Managing Director for Willmott Dixon in the Northern Home Counties, said: "We are very excited to now be in the position where we can start construction on site after several months of planning work. This will be a fantastic entertainment venue for the region, one that my team is very proud to have the responsibility for making a reality within the next few years."

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