Bicester's community hospital is one step closer.

Landowner Lyneham Developments has sold eight acres of a greenfield site, at the corner of Middleton Stoney Road and Oxford Road, to Medical Centre Developments, a firm which specialises in the development of medical facilities.

Dudley Carpenter, managing director of Lyneham Developments, said: "We're simply the landowner.

"Medical Centre Developments have all the resources to ensure the hospital will be brought forward for the North East Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust in as short a timeframe as possible.

"This can only be a good thing for the people of Bicester."

Earlier this month, the 30-bed community hospital received planning permission and could be open by 2005.

The £17m project will replace a nearby 12-bed hospital.