A £35m redevelopment of Oxford's Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre has been given the go-ahead, writes Andrew Ffrench.

Plans to upgrade the centre in Windmill Road, Headington, which specialises in back and bone treatment, have now been given full planning permission.

Building work on the first phase of the development will begin early in 2002.

At yesterday's city council planning committee, health managers were given permission to construct two-storey buildings in the development's first phase.

A third storey could be added to the circular design of the second phase, if funding can be found.

Former Lord Mayor Maureen Christian said: "I am all in favour of these changes because I recently received treatment at the centre after hurting my back." Jean Wright, the trust's project director, said the redesign of the centre would improve staff performance and morale.

Some buildings on site date back to the 1930s and 1960s and Mrs Wright added: "We want to be able to transport elderly patients to the operating theatre as easily as possible.

"We don't get a lot of complaints because patients are here to receive life-changing operations."

The centre's international reputation would be enhanced by the new buildings, she added.

The committee heard that the number of staff working on site -- more than 1,000 -- would not change, and traffic on Windmill Road would not increase. She added that existing greenery on the site was being protected.

Catherine Hodgkinson, representing Quarry ward, told the committee that residents in Wilberforce Street were expressing concerns about the height of a musculo-skeletal research centre on the site.

Mrs Wright said the model that had been produced of the new developments should avoid any further complaints.

Phase One buildings will include bone infection, rheumatology, orthopaedic surgery and support departments, while Phase Two buildings will house three orthopaedic wards, an outpatient's department, imaging and therapy departments and six theatres. There will be car parking for 440 vehicles instead of 390.

The second phase of building will start in 2003 with all building work completed by 2005.