In a move likely to create hundreds of new construction jobs, the Homes and Communities Agency has submitted plans for the largest new town since the development of Milton Keynes.

The development will take place at Northstowe and its planned it will include a new town centre, secondary school, two primary schools, 3,500 new homes as well as new roads, commercial facilities and recreational areas.

Outline planning application for this phase follows planning consent for 1,500 new homes in April 2014, as well as a primary school, sports hub, local centre with shops and a recycling centre.

Senior Project Manager for Northtowe at the Homes and Community Agency said: “We want to make sure the foundations are laid for a solid community to develop. As part of this we have adopted a ‘phased’ approach to development where facilities and road improvements are built hand-in-hand at each stage with new homes. The outline plans submitted today are further proof of that and, if approved, we look forward to working with local communities to develop further details to these outline plans.”

The first stage of development has already begun at Northstowe and is the responsibility of Gallagher Estate and its anticipated there will be 10,000 new homes in the town occupied by 24,000 people.

The formal consultation for the second phase of development will be carried out by the South Cambridgeshire District Council in Autumn.

The announcement follows growing calls from around the UK to create more new towns to cater for the lack of supply in housing. The campaign for a commuter town between Leeds and Manchester, to be based close to junction 22 of the M62 motorway, has gained pace with a number of influential business and community leaders adding their support for the idea.