SIR JOHN HALL announced plans for his lasting legacy to the North-East last night – and revealed doctors have his cancer under control.

The business tycoon, who is suffering from incurable cancer, plans to establish a £2m rose garden at Wynyard Hall that will rival the grounds at Alnwick Castle and become one of the region’s top tourist attractions.

The historic Grade II-listed stately home, which dates from 1230, was passed for generations through the Londonderry family, who entertained the Duke of Wellington, Charles Dickens, Winston Churchill and Elizabeth II.

Sir John purchased the stately home in 1986 as a home for himself and his wife, Mae.

The lifetime president of Newcastle United Football Club, who masterminded the building of the MetroCentre, is now planning to make his own mark on the 2,000-acre estate near Stockton by establishing one of the largest collections of roses in the world.

His five-year masterplan was put on hold after he discovered this time last year that he had prostate cancer.

“I withdrew from everything until I knew if I was going to live or die,” said the 77-year-old.

However, tests have revealed that his disease is under control and he says he is excited to press on with his ambitious plans, which could create 100 jobs.

“Doctors at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle have told me that if I become immune to the drugs I am on there are others. I will still be here in another six to eight years. They have given me my life back.”

Sir John’s daughter, Allison Antonopoulos, had the vision three years ago to transform the hall into a hotel, wedding and conference venue. This year, it was awarded four stars.

His five-year plan includes landscaping a valley in the 2,000-acre estate and installing a 1,000-seat marquee to host a Proms in the Park.

Increasing the number of bedrooms from 17 to 60 is also proposed, along with a luxury spa, which could cost a total of £10m to £12m.

The crown jewel will be his rose garden, designed by Simon Dorrell with 100,000 David Austin plants and creating one of the top five rose gardens in the world.

“I want it to be a garden of my time – the Victorians were of their time,” said Sir John.

“I gave Simon a brief and he came up with a contemporary design. It will be a legacy for Mae and I.

“I am a gardening man. I’m from a pit village in Ashington where everybody else grew leeks, but I grew roses.

I’ve always had a love for them.”

He added: “People will come from all over the world to visit these gardens. I want to get a spade out and get on with it.”