Plans for a £420 million hospital redevelopment are expected to be given the go-ahead later today.

Th Chancellor is today due to announce the Government has approved the ambitious proposals for the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

They will involve the demolition of the ageing Barry and Jubilee buildings, which are almost 190 years old, and replacing them with a purpose-built 12-storey development.

There will also be an expanded cancer and neurosciences centre and an underground car park.

The existing Thomas Kemp Tower would have a helicopter pad added so that critically ill patients could be brought in by air ambulance and treated more quickly.

The redevelopment also includes proposals for a roof garden and there will be hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of transport improvements.

The work would be carried out in three phases and could create hundreds of jobs during and after construction.

Planning permission for the scheme was granted by Brighton and Hove City Council in January 2012.

Brighton Kemptown MP Simon Kirby said: “Today’s announcement is great news for local people. 

“Huge congratulations must go to the team at the Royal Sussex who worked so hard to put forward such a compelling case.

“ It is only right that patients and staff will now have the very best facilities they deserve.”

 

Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas said: "This is fantastic news for the city and a real success for the cross-party community campaign.

"Brighton and Hove deseserves a 21st century hospital and a strong NHS that puts the public first.
 

"We've worked so hard for this essential redevelopment and I will be keeping up the pressure to ensure that there are no more unnecessary delays from the Treasury as the project goes forward."

Hove MP Mike Weatherley said: “This funding is excellent news for NHS provision in Brighton and Hove.

“A new, state-of-the-art hospital has been long overdue and I am pleased that the Government has listened to the needs of local residents.

“While the redevelopment will take a number of years to complete, this announcement is a strong commitment from the Government to provide long-term quality healthcare suitable for the 21st century.”