North Bristol's Southmead Hospital to become £280m acute hospital, bringing many of the city's specialist facilities on to one site.

A £280m PFI hospital in Bristol has been given the nod of approval by councillors.

North Bristol's Southmead hospital will now become an acute hospital, bringing many of the city's specialist facilities on to one site.

Planners rejected claims by councillors in neighbouring south Gloucestershire that parking and public transport links to Southmead were insufficient.

South Gloucestershire's Frenchay Hospital will be downgraded now the plans have been given the go-ahead.

North Bristol NHS Trust has submitted a business case to the Department of Health for review and is awaiting final sign off.

Once the plans have been signed off by the Department of Health, the trust will invite private partners to bid for the Southmead scheme.

It will select a partner by the end of 2007 and building is due to begin in 2008.