CONTROVERSIAL and ambitious plans for a £2million development at Burnley General Hospital are set to get the green light next week.

More than 170 new beds in five separate wards will be created for dermatology and stroke patients as well as new out-patient accommodation.

Facilities for ear, nose and throat, audiology and dermatology patients and a new renal dialysis unit are also included.

There will also be a new main entrance, landscaping and more car parking space.

The improvements, the fifth phase of the hospital's redevelopment programme, will be paid for under the Private Finance Initiative, which has been criticised by unions and Burnley MP Peter Pike.

The proposals will go before Burnley Borough Council's Development Control committee on Thursday where they are expected to be approved.

Chief executive of the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust John Thomas said: "This is a large and exciting development and a wonderful opportunity for the trust.

"The focus of what we are doing is to improve the experience for our patients and not merely to re-provide buildings and services."

The scheme is one of the first major initiatives under the newly merged East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, previously Burnley NHS Trust and Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust.

The new organisation, responsible for Burnley General Hospital, Pendle Community Hospital, Queen's Park Hospital and Rossendale Hospital as well as Blackburn Royal Infirmary, employs around 6,500 people and has an annual budget of £210 million.