Groundworks to prepare the Dorchester site will now get underway to allow main contractor Tilbury Douglas to start the £80m-plus project early next year.

The Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust project now just needs formal business case sign-off from the Government to proceed.

Designed by BDP, Tilbury Douglas will build the new emergency department and critical care unit on the site of the former Damers First School, as part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme.

New Emergency Department will include a rooftop helipad

As well as purpose-built spaces for both major and minor injuries, the building will include a mental health facility and 24 critical care beds.

Paul Gale, Divisional Director at Tilbury Douglas, said: “Achieving the green light from the planners is a really exciting moment, not only for the local community, but the project teams whose dedicated work has secured this lifechanging resource.

“Our teams are geared up for the next stages of construction and we’re looking forward to moving ahead with enabling works and the main New Hospital Programme scheme on site.”