A £219 million redevelopment of St Helier Hospital will go ahead after years of campaigning.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander has just announced the news in Parliament.

His decision puts to rest months of speculation the plans would be thwarted after the Coalition Government said it would review all spending commitments made after January 1.

MP for Sutton and Cheam Paul Burstow, who is also who became a Health Minister, said: “These decisions by the new Government are good news for local people and our local health service.

“It ends the uncertainty surrounding the long overdue renewal of St Helier.

“We all know the Government has to make very tough decisions to sort out the public finances. These announcements show that there is a determination to protect the poor and the vulnerable.”

An Epsom and St Helier Hospital's spokesman said: "For us it is now full steam ahead with our plans.

"The sooner we can get the bulldozers on site the better.