An artist's impression of how the new hospital could look.

WORK on building Clevedon’s new hospital could begin in September if the project is given the go-ahead next month.

An update on the scheme was given to Clevedon Town Council by its procurement advisor, Barbara Hardy, on June 13, when she also revealed patients could start using the new facility in February 2014 if all goes to plan. The South of England Strategic Health Authority board will decide whether to approve the business case for the hospital, which is due to be built on land at Millcross, near the end of July.

If given the green light, NHS North Somerset then plans to sign a deal with a company called Amber Solutions for Care, which will become its private sector partner for the scheme.

The company will build the hospital and look after its maintenance once it is complete. The NHS will then lease the building back and will control the day-to-day running of the hospital.

It is hoped such a deal could be signed in August, ready for workmen to move on to site in September.

Amber Solutions for Care is a company which has already provided numerous other health facilities and public buildings across England in similar deals.

Barbara Hardy said: “They do deliver good quality, they do maintain their buildings and they do stay long-term.”