FIRST Secretary of State John Prescott has approved Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust's planning bid to build a new hospital at Pembury as part of its Private Finance Initiative.

The project will provide a 595-bed acute general hospital, 56-bed mental health unit, staff accommodation and car parking.

Mr Prescott found no grounds to reconsider Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's consent for the £257 million hospital.

NHS Trust chief executive Stephen Collinson said: "This is excellent news and enables us to move forward quickly with this scheme, which everyone in Tunbridge Wells wants to see us do."

Trust Chairman Anne Chapman added: "I would like to congratulate and thank all staff involved in our PFI Project who have enabled us to reach this important stage."

The Trust can now advertise for PFI partners in the New Year, subject to approval of its Outline Business Case by the Strategic Health Authority.