The Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (CCRH) project in the UK has secured government approval for the second phase of its outline business case.

Construction company Laing O'Rourke has been selected as the preferred construction partner for the project.

The business case was cleared by NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care and HM Treasury.

The new seven-storey hospital will be the first facility built in the east of England under the UK Government’s New Hospital Programme.

Located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, the facility will cover an area of 26,300m².

It aims to enhance cancer research and treatment, detect cancer at earlier stages and deliver more precise care.

CCRH will bring together NHS employees from Addenbrooke’s Hospital with researchers from the University of Cambridge and its Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre.

The hospital is planned to be a low-carbon facility with optimum natural light penetration.

Laing O'Rourke's work on the project is expected to involve modern construction methods.

Work has begun on the facility's full business case, with construction expected to start in 2024.

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust cancer services director Dr Hugo Ford said: “This is a huge milestone in our plans to create a new specialist cancer research hospital that will deliver hope and better outcomes for millions of people across the globe.

“We have a unique chance to transform patient care through patient-led design alongside groundbreaking research.

“By bringing scientists into the heart of new clinical and hospital spaces, we will ignite cutting-edge discoveries, which will ultimately make a massive difference to the care we give our patients and their quality of life.”

Development of the CCRH project secured approval from the UK Government’s New Hospital Programme last year.

In January this year, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust filed a planning application for the project with Cambridge City Council.