The Sir Bobby Robson Institute will pioneer innovations in cancer care and expand the number of clinical trials available for patients across the North East, north Cumbria and North Yorkshire.

Robertson has been working with Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust since January under the ProCure23 framework, providing pre-construction and technical design support alongside P+HS Architects.

The design is inspired by the molecular hexagon structure behind Rubraca – the first “Geordie cancer drug” – and would unite the existing Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre with cancer and blood disorder research teams in a new three-storey facility.

Neil Kennedy, regional managing director at Robertson Construction North East, said the milestone marked “the next step in delivering a facility that will have a profound impact on cancer treatment and research across both the North East and globally.”

So far, £20m has been raised by supporters of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, part of Newcastle Hospitals Charity, with a new fundraising campaign set to launch for the final £10m.

If planning permission is granted, work could start next spring with completion due in 2028.