A SHORTLIST of bidders vying to build the new £451m Royal Liverpool Hospital has been unveiled by health officials.

They announced three companies will be going through to the next stage in the building process.

The shortlisted bidders are Balfour Beatty, The Hospital Company and Horizon.

Chief executive Tony Bell said: “We are delighted to have such a strong group of bidders and are looking forward to working with them.

“It is very important for us to make sure we identify the best-possible construction partner, so the people of Merseyside and beyond have a new hospital of which they can be proud.”

Over the next few months, the bidders will work on their plans with the Trust.

Within a year, the hospital will have chosen a preferred bidder for the new hospital.

Approval will then be gained from officials at the Department of Health and local NHS partners.

It is expected that work will begin on the new hospital in 2012.

The project would create a brand new hospital with single, en-suite rooms throughout, a garden the size of Albert Dock and a separate Accident and Emergency entrance.