ORLANDO, Fla. -- A new children's hospital will be built in Lake Nona and could open as early as 2012 after the state announced on Tuesday that it has approved an agreement between Nemours, Orlando Regional Healthcare and Florida Hospital.

The agreement will allow Nemours to move forward with its plans to create a statewide pediatric health care system, anchored by the new children's hospital.

Appeals by Orlando Regional Healthcare and Florida Hospital to Nemours' three approved applications will be dismissed, the state said.

"We will immediately move forward with the establishment of a top-tier pediatric health care system -- anchored by a children's hospital -- in Florida. We have worked tirelessly toward this goal since our first application was filed 22 months ago. This is a milestone for our organization and -- more importantly -- a milestone for the children and families we serve," Nemours President and CEO Dr. David Bailey said in a released statement.

Nemours announced its plans to establish a new children's hospital in Orlando in July 2005.

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