A new operating theatre could be built at a North Wales hospital if the necessary funding is secured.

Gwynedd Council planners have approved the application at Bangor’s Ysbyty Gwynedd which, according to health board chiefs, would create 18 new jobs and expand the hospital’s capacity.

A spokesperson for the health board confirmed, however, that building work will only take place once the necessary funding has been secured.

“We are developing plans to build a new orthopaedic theatre at Ysbyty Gwynedd,” she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“These plans are currently in the very early stages, and we are in the process of finalising a business case to submit to Welsh Government.”

The application, submitted by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board,  describes the plans as a first and second floor extension to the north east wing for a new operating theatre suite.

The hospital, which serves both Anglesey and Gwynedd counties, was built in 1984 and recently saw a major expansion of the accident and emergency facilities.

The application documents noted, “The suite includes associated support facilities to provide accommodation to meet the latest regulatory framework requirements.

“The proposal incorporates the refurbishment of an existing internal area of the hospital.

“The extension will create a ground floor under croft to allow for maintained access to existing hospital delivery and maintenance areas.

“The second floor of the extension will provide necessary plant accommodation for the operating theatre facility.”

Planning officers, who approved the application without the need to go in front of councillors, concluded: “On the ground floor a basement under the extension will be created, this will support the existing access to hospital for hospital goods and maintenance.

“The development includes floors around this part of the hospital will be refurbished to fit in with the use of the new extension.

“The external finish of the proposed extension will include insulated wall panels, gray glazed spandrel, aluminum framed windows and ground floor columns covered in aluminum.”