A new ‘state-of-the-art’ £70 million cancer centre is to be built in Sutton by The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust after receiving a £25 million boost.

With it due to open in 2021, the Oak Cancer Centre will have more than 300 researchers alongside patients in a bid to tackle “the most challenging and rare cancers”.

This is following a multi-million "lead gift aid" by the Oak Foundation, a family-led organisation which was first established in 1983.

Dr Nicholas van As, medical director at The Royal Marsden, said: “I think it’s going to transform our patient facility in Sutton.

“The whole environment will be a far more pleasing environment to be in, for patients and staff.

“It gives us a 40 percent increase in capacity, and takes what is a facility that needs replacing to being a state-of-the-art outpatient facility as well as a research centre.

“One of the unique things about this building is that it’s going to have the outpatients, the new diagnostic centre, and 300 researchers – all in one building – which is hopefully going to be a fantastic way forward for the patients.”

The new facility will be built on the trust's site in Sutton.

Money is being raised by the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity to raise the £70 million necessary, and this donation brings the total to above half the target (£43 million).

It is aimed that using the latest and most up-to-date technology will help provide patients with earlier and faster diagnoses to increase survival chances in the new building.

Professor David Cunningham, director of clinical research at The Royal Marsden, said: “I’d like to thank the Oak Foundation for this incredibly generous gift.

“Through pioneering new treatments and proving their effectiveness, the work carried out in the Oak Cancer Centre will benefit patients not just at The Royal Marsden but throughout the UK and beyond.”

An Oak Foundation spokesman said the organisation is pleased to support The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and hopes others will donate to “this important cause”.

To see the Oak Cancer Centre appeal, click here.