BULLDOZERS will start clearing the site of a new £19 million community hospital before the end of the year, it has been announced.

Builders are to begin work on the new Malvern Community Hospital after Old Seaford House on the Seaford Court site has been raised.

Heavy plant will move in on Monday, December 1, after Worcestershire Primary Care Trust was given the go ahead to start demolition by Malvern Hills District Council planning officers under delegated powers.

Building clearance is due to be finished by the end of February, when work will then start clearing the Japanese knotweed currently contaminating the site.

Brian Hanford, Worcestershire PCT finance director and project director, said: “This will be a very obvious sign to the local community that work on the new hospital is progressing.

“We are still on target to have the new hospital open by autumn 2010.”