A £35m redevelopment of Oxford's Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre could get the go-ahead today.

Plans to upgrade the centre in Windmill Road, Headington, which specialises in bone treatment, including hip and knee replacements, have already been given outline approval.

Councillors were being advised today to give the project full planning permission, but may not make a decision until Friday.

If the scheme is approved, building work on the first phase will start early next year.

The second phase will begin early in 2003, with all building work completed by 2005.

Jean Wright, the Nuffield Orthapaedic Centre NHS Trust project director for site development, said the scheme had been waiting for planning permission for a year.

She said: "Getting full planning permission would be a real milestone, because it means that building work can start in about eight weeks' time."

Phase One buildings will include bone infection, rheumatology, orthopaedic surgery and support departments, while Phase Two buildings will house three orthapaedic wards, outpatients, imaging and therapy departments and six theatres.

Car parking will be increased to 440 vehicles.

The Nuffield Orthapaedic Centre NHS Trust is submitting two planning applications, one featuring two-storey buildings and one featuring three-storey buildings.

Catherine Hodgkinson, city councillor for Quarry, said the height of the NOC's research centre had upset local residents.

She said: "The possibility of three-storey buildings could be a cause for concern."

*Plans to build a £7.5m trauma centre at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital are also to be considered today.

The quick-build centre could be open by April next year if city councillors give it the go-ahead.