Experts at the new facility hope to identify new cancer therapies

The move has been welcomed by health chiefs who say the centre will put Glasgow among the world leaders in the battle against cancer.

Approval for the development had been sought by the University of Glasgow and Cancer Research UK under the umbrella of the Beatson Institute.

The site is located at the university's Garscube Estate at Botany Gardens.

The new facility aims to accelerate the process of understanding the disease, identifying new therapies and bringing them to patients.

'Talented scientists'

Work is scheduled to begin later this year, with the project to be completed in 2006.

The project will complement that already undertaken at the existing adjacent Beatson building. A walkway is to be built between the two.

Professor Karen Vousden, director of the Beatson Institute, said: "The new centre will provide Scottish researchers with state-of-the-art research facilities.

"It will be a melting pot of some of the most talented scientists and doctors in the country, giving us the best possible chance of making progress against the disease."

Professor Jim Cassidy of the Beatson Oncology Centre, added: "Not only will this development put Scottish science on the map, but it will be hugely beneficial for cancer patients.

Glazed pavilion

"By putting some of the country's best scientists under a single roof and forging strong links with cancer doctors, it is designed to turn high quality laboratory research into concrete clinical progress as quickly as possible".

The new building will house up to 240 researchers, with the design conceived as a glazed pavilion with natural light and communal space for an open forum of research.

While adjacent to the existing building it will be built separately to reduce the impact of construction work on the current research programmes.