AN announcement on whether a £1.7 billion bid to replace Bradford's ageing hospitals will be made as early as April.

Last year it was announced that the Act as One health and care partnership that covers Bradford District and Craven had bid to Government for funding that would see a rebuild of Airedale Hospital on its current site to create Europe’s first carbon neutral hospital, rebuilding Lynfield Mount to develop a new acute inpatient facility and replacing Bradford Royal Infirmary and St. Luke’s Hospital with a purpose built hospital on a single site.

At a recent meeting of Bradford Council, Councillor Hassan Khan (Lab, Bowling and Barkerend) said: "We have badly ageing hospital buildings in the Bradford district and yet we’ve not seen the same government grant funding here that other parts of the country have seen.

Bradford has a 'strong case' for a brand-new hospital fit for the future

"I know the Leader has lobbied strongly on this and is supporting our district’s bid for brand-new hospitals to replace Airedale, Lynfield Mount and the BRI.

"When will we hear back from government?"

A response from the Council Executive said: "We have been advised that the Government is making a final decision on which hospitals will receive funding under the current bidding round in April/May."