CHIEF executive of the Royal, Tony Bell, expressed his relief the Government had finally approved the £451m new hospital.

He said: “We’re absolutely delighted that the new Royal has been confirmed by the Government. We have had a huge amount of support for the scheme and I’m really pleased that this removes uncertainty for our plans to create a state- of-the-art hospital, which will change the face of healthcare in Liverpool.”

Chairwoman at the hospital, Judith Greensmith, said: “The people of Merseyside told us that they wanted a new hospital and we can now deliver the best possible building and services for them well into the future.

“It is local people who have made a new Royal possible.

“We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to local people and our partner organisations for their continued support for the new Royal.

“The new Royal will be a landmark building for Liverpool and means that we can continue to lead the way when it comes to research and innovation.”

Mr Bell added: “The new Royal allows us to provide healthcare in a 21st-century building, with improved standards for clinical research facilities. This is part of a much broader vision for Liverpool and the city region.

“The new hospital represents a crucial step towards the development of a biocampus on site, developing new treatments through research and a hub for the future of health science research in the North West.”