Dumfries and Galloway Council has approved plans for a new district general hospital to be constructed.

The Council's Planning Committee gave its support to the application earlier this week.

Releasing a statement, NHS Dumfries and Galloway's Chief Executive, Jeff Ace, said: "This is a major milestone which allows us to work towards financial close at the start of the New Year, and paves the way for the start of construction scheduled for spring 2015.

"We have come a long way from the initial site selection of the green field site, on the outskirts of Dumfries. Since then an immense amount of hard work has been undertaken by the Project Team, advisors and our bidding partners to reach this point, and many of our staff have worked closely with them on the detail of the design."

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He continued: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with High Wood Health and have a shared vision, not only for a new hospital for the people of Dumfries and Galloway, but to modernise healthcare services in our region. This will be a hospital built to the highest standard, making it fit for the needs of our patients, and to enable our staff to deliver the best possible care."

Dennis O'Keeffe, Project Director, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, added: "Another significant step forward towards modernising healthcare services for the region, the receipt of planning approval, on programme, will allow us to proceed with our partner High Wood Health to financial close, subsequently staying on programme to start construction of our new hospital next spring – and to bring our ambitious plans for community benefits to fruition."

David Hunter, High Wood Health's Bid Director, commented: "We are delighted to have received planning approval for the new district general hospital today.

"It is a significant step representing the continued collaboration between High Wood Health, NHS Dumfries and Galloway and our project stakeholders to develop a solution that will create a first class health facility and a lasting legacy.

"With approval granted we can now focus completely on our next major milestone of financial close in early 2015, after which we can progress construction in earnest."

When completed, the £200m hospital will house 350 beds for patients. It is to be built on an area of farmland off the Garroch roundabout at the western end of the town's by-pass.

(JP/CD)