Battersea Arts Centre is one step closer to restoration after receiving planning permission to rebuild what was destroyed in a fire last year.

The Grand Hall was devastated by a fire in March 2015, and since then, the team at the centre has been working on plans to restore the building in-keeping with the historic Grade II listed architecture.

March 2015: PICTURES: New images reveal extent of devastating fire to Battersea Arts Centre

March 15, 2016: One Year On in pictures: Battersea Arts Centre on the road to recovery 12 months after the Grand Hall was devastated by fire​

April 28, 2016: Grand plans for Battersea Arts Centre announced as team moves on from devastating fire

The team at the centre has been working with architects Haworth Tompkins to develop a testing method called "playgrounding" where ideas are tested and shared to "find the most innovative approach".

Using this approach, the team has redeveloped the open-air courtyard theatre, which will open in July, and eight new bedrooms allowing up to 23 artists to live and work in the building.

The external envelope will be rebuilt to match the original with minor modifications.

Internally, elements that survived the fire will be saved, and refurbished or stabilised.

A new timber lattice ceiling will recreate the one-of-a-kind plasterwork arc lost to the fire whilst revealing the 15m high apex of the roof above, alongside additions including demountable side galleries and a technical gallery at high level.

Improvements will also be made to acoustics, lighting, sightlines, ventilation and sound-spill.

The unique theatre organ, largely offsite undergoing restoration at the time of the fire, will be relocated to the balcony, freeing up space beneath the surviving proscenium arch.

Steve Tompkins, director of Haworth Tompkins said: "The Grand Hall fire was a hugely significant event in the long history of this extraordinary building. We took the decision with Battersea Arts Centre to make manifest the changes caused by the fire and to replace lost elements with contemporary material rather than replicas.

"This approach is integral to our decade long transformation project elsewhere in the building, each phase of which has been an architectural mediation between the important listed fabric of the old town hall and the 21st century creative activity that it nurtures.

"In developing our design solution, the imaginative support of the local community, Historic England and the Wandsworth planning and conservation team has been invaluable."

David Jubb, artistic director of Battersea Arts Centre said: "As we rebuild the Grand Hall we will use up to 10,000 of the bricks from the original building. The salvage operation and the redesign work has been a huge labour of love.

"I am so grateful to everyone who has creatively contributed to the future of the Grand Hall, a public process brilliantly led by Haworth Tompkins. Our insurers, Aviva, have given a great deal of support and shown real originality by supporting the alternative design for rebuilding the Grand Hall.

"As a result, we will be able to host more diverse events every year, enabling more people to share life-changing moments in this special building."

A spokesman for Wandsworth Council confirmed that the applications were approved under delegated powers on May 6.

The investigation conducted into the cause of the fire was inconclusive. Insurers Aviva confirmed that Battersea Arts Centre’s claim has been indemnified and they are fully supportive of the proposed rebuild plans.

Wandsworth’s planning chairman Councillor Sarah McDermott said: "This is great news for BAC and for everyone in our community who loves and cherishes this Battersea landmark.

"I am delighted that we have been able to approve these plans so quickly and that these important works to repair, restore and improve this wonderful building can now get under way."