PLANS for developing a radiotherapy unit at Sidcup’s Queen Mary’s Hospital are underway.

Cancer specialist provider Healthcare Technologies International (HTI) Aspen has been selected to develop the unit.

It will work alongside Guys and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and South London Healthcare NHS Trust.

The unit is hoped to be up and running by the end of 2013.

The trust’s chief executive Dr Chris Streather said: "This is a fantastic good news story for local people.

“It will benefit patients from our three boroughs and we will spend the next six months ironing out the details.

“Cancer is just about the greatest public health issue we face and we are strongly committed to delivering the vast majority of care locally.

“This is a very significant step in the right direction and excellent news for patients."