AFTER years of delays, work is finally due to start on Bicester’s £5m community hospital within a fortnight.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the long-awaited development has been set for Friday, June 7.

It will mark the official start of construction of the two-storey 12-bed facility, which includes a first aid unit, ambulance base and services including X-ray and physiotherapy.

The replacement hospital will aim to be environmentally friendly with rainwater harvesting, solar panels, a solar chimney, natural lighting and ventilation, using local materials.

Developer Kajima announced building firm Mansell, part of Balfour Beaty, had been appointed to build the new hospital in Kings End.

Mansell has previously worked with Kajima to build Brentwood Community Hospital in Essex.

Bicester Community Hospital won planning permission in September last year and had its business case approved by the Strategic Health Authority in November. It is expected to open in August 2014.

Richard Coe, senior development manager for Kajima Partnerships, said: “We have been delighted with Mansell’s contribution to the scheme so far and look forward to building on this success to deliver a hospital of clinical excellence.”

Mansell’s Thames Valley regional director Jonathan Winter said: “It’s great to have been appointed to deliver Bicester’s new community hospital.

“Stakeholder engagement with members of the local community has been a key part of the project to date and will continue throughout the contract period through projects such as the outdoor gym, therapy garden and two public art commissions.”

The new building will be created on land behind the current hospital and, once complete, the old 12-bed Victorian hospital building will be demolished to make way for 14 two- and three-bedroom houses.

Les Sibley, chairman of campaign Save Our Community Hospital, said: “I’m pleased after a long campaign Bicester is going to see the start of work for the new hospital. It’s been a long time coming.”

Retired GP Dr Michael Curry was chairman of community participation group Chef, which was set up four years ago after a public meeting to work with PCT officers.

He said: “There have been legal problems about ownership of the land but that’s all sorted.

“I’m pleased the whole thing is going ahead and I’m quite sure Chef was very successful in levering the PCT officers to do things.”

The road to the town’s new community hospital has not been smooth. During the 15-year saga there have been battles, petitions, legal wrangles and debates in Parliament over the hospital.