£20m deal signed for new hospital

Selby Council bosses hope the project will help local firms hit by the recession to get back on their feet, as well as providing value-for-money services.

The council has teamed up with NHS North Yorkshire and York Community and Mental Health Services to jointly fund the scheme, which is being built by Leeds-based BAM Construction.

The Selby Community Project will deliver a new community hospital and civic centre on land by the existing Selby War Memorial Hospital in Doncaster Road. It is expected to be finished in summer 2011.

Mental Health Services Managing Director Janet Probert said: "The final agreement is now in place, which means work can start on site.

"This has been a long time coming and we've been over many hurdles along the way. But what we now have in place is a construction timetable which will mean the people of Selby get their brand new community hospital and civic centre next year."