MULTI-million pound plans for a new orthopaedic centre to be created at Colchester Hospital are set to be approved.

The East Suffolk and North Essex Trust's plans to build the new centre, set to cost about £34 million, are set to be approved by Colchester Council's planning committee.

To create the new centre, which will serve patients from both areas, the Mary Barron building, cardiac catheterisation unit and administrative block will be demolished as well as part of the Elmstead Day Unit and the removal of staff car park F.

A three-storey building and roof top plant would then be built to serve as the elective orthopaedic centre which is set to comprise 72 inpatient beds and six operating theatres.

Proposals also include a new a loop road to allow for ambulance bays and a patient drop-off area are also set to be created, as well as a new pedestrian footway.

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A report states: "The proposal is considered to meet these objectives by providing a necessary health care facility which would be accessible by the local community and would benefit their health and well-being.

"In respect of the third dimension environmental, the proposal does allow for some biodiversity net gain with ecological enhancement measures.

"There is also sufficient evidence to be confident overall the development would not cause significant harm to the amenity of nearby residents, create noise pollution or have a severe impact upon the highway network.

"Overall it is considered the positive environmental effects and sustainability of the proposal would weigh in favour of this scheme.

"In conclusion, it is considered the public benefits of the scheme demonstrably outweigh the limited adverse impacts identified in terms of the setting of the locally listed buildings and loss of moderate value trees.

"As such, members are recommended to resolve to grant planning permission subject to the requirements and conditions set out below."

The total cost of the new centre and the moving of the current day facilities is likely to be £44million.

Works are expected to be finished in 2024 with 13 patients treated at the new facility per day.

The planning committee will vote on the plans on Thursday, June 17.