The National Capital Commission board approved the federal review of sites for a new Civic campus of The Ottawa Hospital at its board meeting Tuesday.

The Ottawa Hospital attracted controversy for trying to secure its preferred site on a research field of the Central Experimental Farm across from its current location without doing much public consultation.

Now, a committee of two NCC board members, architects and a heritage expert will go back to ten possible sites the hospital looked at back in 2008.

The NCC hopes to have a recommendation ready by November or December.

Government Conference Centre, Ottawa River shoreline also discussed

The government conference centre in downtown Ottawa, at Colonel By Drive and Wellington Street, will get a striking new east facade on a wall that was attached decades ago to a hotel in the Corry Block. (National Capital Commission) Members of the board also pored over drawings showing how the Government Conference Centre will look when the Senate moves in by September 2018 and approved the building's final design.

The board also heard about big plans to liven up the Ottawa River shoreline in Gatineau.

The NCC will consult the public this fall over how to fill in missing sections of pathway, provide better access to the water, create a scenic lookout at Scott Point and develop new sites for public events.

The NCC will consult in fall 2016 about a plan to make restore vegetation and give more public access to the Ottawa River on the Gatineau side. (National Capital Commission)

In his wide-ranging update on the NCC's activities, CEO Mark Kristmanson also told the board the NCC's real estate staff have held several talks with RendezVous LeBreton Group about the major land redevelopment, but had few details to add.

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LeBreton?src=hash">#LeBreton</a>: it's too early to comment on the recent talks. Full report in November. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ottcity?src=hash">#ottcity</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ottnews?src=hash">#ottnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/C3Jq543Xcr">pic.twitter.com/C3Jq543Xcr</a> —@NCC_CCN

Read Kate Porter's updates below from the meeting.