PLANS to rebuild the Royal Liverpool Hospital will be subject to a judicial review, it was announced last night – a move which could significantly delay the project.

A High Court judge decided that the case, launched by Sam Semoff of campaign group Keep Our NHS Public, will go ahead at the end of next month.

Mr Semoff claims last year’s consultation for the £369m new- build hospital was unlawful, because it did not mention the use of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) funding. His challenge also claims there is no indication any consideration was given to people who preferred the option of rebuilding the current hospital.

Royal Liverpool executives and Liverpool primary care trust last night expressed their “disappointment” with the decision and the delay it will cause.

Mr Semoff said: “I am so glad to see that the court has recognised the inadequacies of the consultation and we now look forward to the full hearing.

“If successful there, the public will be able to make a decision on the future of healthcare in Liverpool based on the full picture.”

The Daily Post revealed last month that Mr Semoff had launched the case, but hospital representatives said then they were confident it would be thrown out at yesterday’s hearing.

Any irreversible steps in the project will now be put on hold, until the full review is undertaken.

The judge has made the two-day case a priority and it should be heard at the end of May, to reduce any delays to the build.

However, if Mr Semoff wins his case, the consultation process for the project will start from scratch – significantly putting the project behind schedule.