Committee members gave the final go-ahead to the development of a new Selby War Memorial Hospital and combined Selby District Council base on the Doncaster Road site during a Board of the Yorkshire and The Humber Strategic Health Authority meeting held in Leeds on Tuesday.

The Selby Community Project (shown as an artist's impression) was subject to £13 million in government grants, but with concerns about the North Yorkshire Primary Care Trust's financial position due to mounting debts, nothing was being taken for granted, according to Selby MP John Grogan.

He added: "This decision marks the end of a ten-year campaign to secure funding for the building of a new Selby hospital, and it has been quite touch-and-go in recent days because of the authority's financial problems.

"I'm glad this final approval has been given and Selby can now benefit from a new hospital and civic centre in addition to the bypass, new college buildings and flood defences."

Representing the town at the meeting was Friends of Selby War Memorial Hospital chairman Margaret Hewer, who handed each committee member a single white rose and asked them to remember their responsibilities to residents when voting.

SDC leader Coun Mark Crane said: "We're delighted to learn we've got this final approval and look forward to moving onto the site on February 15 to build the new hospital and civic centre for the people of Selby. I think the vast majority of Selby district residents will be as delighted as I am with this great news."

As reported in the Selby Times last week, up to 1,200 jobs will be created during and after the construction phase, which is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2011. A 'Meet the Buyer' event is planned for Selby Civic Centre on Tuesday for companies bidding for work from constructors BAM.