The Trust’s governors rubber-stamped the plans last week and now the hunt has started to find a contractor for the £16m construction contract.

The new 60,000 sq ft three-storey hospital will include a new cancer ward and eye ward. It will also comprise a new multi-story car park, a new energy centre and associated general site works.

Shortlisted biders will be invited to tender on 8 April. Work is then expected to start in autumn and the first phase will take 15 months to complete.

Firms can express an interest in bidding on the procurement portal.

Jayne Blacklay, director of development at the trust, said: “A key driver for this development is the expected population increase in Stratford from proposed housing developments.

“With support from district council colleagues, we have applied for financial contributions from developers to enable us to accommodate the healthcare needs of the new population without compromising care for the existing population.”

The new building will be twice as big as the current hospital