HEALTH secretary John Reid last night announced the go-ahead for a new mental hospital for Sunderland.

South of Tyne and Wearside Mental Health Trust's plans to replace the Cherry Knowle Hospital, at Ryhope, was among 15 national schemes worth more than £4bn, revealed yesterday.

The trust is working closely with NHS Estates and The Prince's Foundation on plans for the hospital, under the Building a Better Patient Environment scheme. South of Tyne and Wearside is one of five national pilot projects and the only mental health trust involved in the project.

After a consultation exercise last year involving staff, patients, cares, the community and representatives from City of Sunderland Council, a site plan was developed.

As well as the hospital, it will include an extension to the village of Ryhope which will see mental health and the community integrated, with education or leisure facilities which could be used by patients and local people.

Trust project director Dave Hall said: "The trust is delighted to receive approval from the Department of Health for its vision for the modernisation of mental health services and to the concept that will see facilities integrated as part of the extension of the village.

"We can now look forward to developing more detailed designs and, as part of the next stage of the process, consider the most appropriate option for funding the scheme."