A NEW multi-million pound cancer unit is to be built after planning permission was granted following donations totalling more than £7m.

The new Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Cancer Unit will be built at Harrogate District Hospital with the latest technolgy and cancer support facilities for people in the region.

Work will begin on the site in the coming weeks and the unit is expected to open in the summer of 2013.

A large part of the finance for the scheme has been donated by businessman and racehorse owner Sir Robert Ogden and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Richard Ord, chief executive of the hospital, said: “We are delighted with the council’s decision and we can now press ahead with our plans for a new multi-million pound, state of the art cancer unit for the benefit of cancer patients in Harrogate and the surrounding district.

“The new unit will enable us to carry out a wider range of treatments that patients currently have to travel elsewhere to receive.

“We are extremely grateful for the generosity of Sir Robert Ogden and Macmillan Cancer Support. Without their help, we would not be able to go ahead.

“Macmillan recently rated our cancer services here in Harrogate as the best in the country, from the experiences of patients. Now we have the chance to make our service world class by building this new cancer unit.”