The centre will offer the latest radiotherapy techonologies to help fight the illness.

Spire Portsmouth Hospital, the former BUPA hospital, in Bartons Road, has announced it is building the centre and it will be open by next year.

The centre will offer the latest generation techonologies including Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy and Image Guided Radiation Therapy.

The treatments have been shown to have significant benefits in treating common cancers including breast and prostate cancer.

Most patients will have to pay privately for the treatment but bosses have said they will be looking to offer referrals from the NHS.

Cash to pay for the centre has come from a partnership between CancerPartners UK and Spire Healthcare.

Cancer Partners UK is a new organisation set up to work in partnership with the NHS, the independent sector, and the voluntary sector, to bring state-of-the-art cancer care closer to patients.

Portsmouth-based cancer specialist David Boote said: 'This is excellent news for the area. With more than 9,000 new cancer cases reported in Portsmouth each year, it is right that we should be among the first to benefit from the state of the art treatment centres provided by CancerPartners UK.

'We hope to develop a working partnership with the local NHS services, to ensure as many patients as possible have access to the centre.'

Cancer specialist Professor Karol Sikora, medical director of CancerPartners UK, said: 'It is our philosophy to bring high-quality cancer care closer to patients.

'This deal marks an important milestone for us, as we look to roll out cancer services across the country, and make cutting edge treatments and services available to increasing numbers of patients.

'We are delighted that patients in Portsmouth will be among the first to benefit.

'This partnership will enable more patients to access the best in modern treatment, including much-needed radiotherapy services.'

Havant councillor June Hanan said she hoped the centre would be offering as many treatments as possible to NHS patients.

She said: 'I think we have got to have expert treatment for cancer. It is already available of course but people sometimes have to travel a long way but this won't be far away for the people of Havant and Leigh Park.'