Plans for Braintree's new community hospital have passed the first hurdle with flying colours.
The board of Mid Essex Primary Care Trust voted unanimously to approve the full business case today.
Now it will go before the regional strategic health authority on April 26 and if successful building work could begin by the end of May.
Sheila Bremner, the trust's chief executive, said: "I'm absolutely delighted. And what I'm delighted with is reaching the right decision for exactly the right reasons.
"We've done the health assessment and consulted local people on the proposals and we came to the board with a proposal which will help to address the health needs of the people of Braintree and the surrounding area, that we can afford."
