OXFORD’S John Radcliffe Hospital has won planning permission to extend its main entrance to create a glazed reception area.

The extension, between the original hospital and the women’s centre, will also provide four shops and a cafe.

A new covered drop-off point for ambulances will be created, with parking spaces in the area reconfigured.

Oxford City Council ’s chief planning officer Murray Hancock described it as a “fairly straightforward” proposal and said there had been no objections.

Councillors questioned whether the removal of trees could cause surface water run-off in the area, but the Environment Agency raised no concerns. The east area planning committee approved the scheme on Thursday evening.