The three-storey paediatric cardiothoracic centre will be built on part of the infirmary’s outdoor car park and will be connected to the rest of the hospital via a footbridge.

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust now needs to get the final business case sign-off before work contractor Robertson Construction can start in April 2023.

Designed by Ryder Architecture, the building has demanding sustainability requirements, targeting net zero carbon in operation and accreditation to BREEAM Outstanding.

The building also aims to be built using 70%t modern methods of construction.

It will accommodate two floors of hospital accommodation for paediatric cardiothoracic care and with the top floor primarily used for associated plant accommodation.

The government said it would release £41.7m funding for the scheme in 2019, after NHS England had said children’s heart services could only continue in the region if they were relocated from the Freeman to the same site as the RVI’s Great North Children’s Hospital.

A large garden to the south west of the site will offer patients a play area