The new £27 million hospital will provide 36 inpatient beds, co-located carers’ suite, outpatient clinics, an imaging suite, medical day case centre and enhanced procedures suite for minor surgery and endoscopy, as well as a healthy living centre.

There will also be a midwifery led unit, two independent GP surgeries and a base for administrative staff.

Jo Chambers, chief executive of Shropshire Community NHS Trust, said:

“The project will provide a host of new services which will mean people no longer have to travel further afield to Shrewsbury or Hereford, for example chemotherapy is planned to be provided for the first time, alongside types of X-ray and imaging, chemotherapy, surgical day case procedures and a variety of outpatient clinics. The hospital offers an opportunity for nursing and other health professionals to work more closely with GPs to help transform health care services so they can best meet the needs of our ageing population.”

The plans have caused some concern from residents who objected to the GP surgeries moving from the town centre.

Work on the new hospital based at Ludlow’s Eco Park is set to begin in July and is expected to open in summer 2014.