A CHARITY’S scheme to build a cancer support centre on stilts has been given the go-ahead by Oxford City Council.

Maggie’s Centres in Oxford has a temporary facility at the Churchill Hospital, in Headington, offering advice, relaxation sessions and creative art therapy.

It has launched a £3m fundraising campaign to build the striking treehouse-style structure and pay its running costs for the first two years. It could be ready to open as early as next year.

More than £630,000 has already been raised.

It is expected the new centre, on a site near the hospital’s Julia Durbin Day nursery, will be used by several dozen people a day.

There are about 4,000 new diagnoses of cancers in the Thames Valley each year and staff at the centre offer advice and support to cancer sufferers and their friends and relatives.

Liz Minton, head of Maggie's Oxford, said: “This is a great step forward for Maggie’s Oxford and for the thousands of people in the region affected by cancer.

“We have proven through the work of our interim facility that Maggie’s has a vitally positive role to play in people’s experience of cancer.

“The permanent centre will allow us to open our doors to many more people, expand upon the services we offer and will also be able to provide our programme of support within an inspiring and uplifting building.

“With such great backing from the local community, we are sure we can reach this target in the future.”

Helen Elphick, the centre’s information support specialist, said: “We want to hear from anyone affected by cancer, whether it is the person themselves or their families.”

Maggie’s Oxford is part of the Maggie’s Joy of Living Fundraising Campaign to raise £15m to build five new centres in England and Wales.

The Oxford centre has been designed by Chris Wilkinson of Wilkinson Eyre Architects.

It will feature an entrance area, library, dining and sitting room areas, offices and three consultation rooms.

Mr Wilkinson said: "We are thrilled that the centre has now received planning permission. The tree house concept maximises the relationship between the internal space and the external landscape, offering discreet spaces for relaxation, information and therapy.

“It will provide a sympathetic and caring retreat, in tune with its surroundings."

Members of the city counci’s north east area committee approved the application at a meeting on Tuesday.