The Government is on track to break a key promise to build 40 new hospitals by 2030.

A report by the public spending watchdog says delays to projects mean the target is unlikely to be met.

The National Audit Office says work on buildings in the second cohort of the scheme was yet to have started as of May.

Among them is the new centre in Belmont, which was supposed to open in 2027, but that timeline has been called a “stretch” by NHS bosses.