Longcross Garden Village, which is located 20 miles to the west of London on a former MOD site, is already home to one of the UK’s largest film studios – which has hosted a range of major productions including the Star Wars and James Bond franchises.

The approved proposals for Longcross South, which were submitted on behalf of Crest Nicholson and Aviva Investors and approved by Runnymead Borough Council, will see the creation of 1,700 new homes, a school, health centre, community facilities and village centre.

Adjacent to the development on the eastern edge is Chertsey Common, which has been identified as a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) and open for use by Longcross residents as part of a strategy to protect the nearby Chobham Common, home of a range of internationally important bird populations including woodlarks and nightjars.

Other assets set to be retained on the site include Round Barrow – a bronze age burial mound that is a scheduled monument, the grade II listed Barrow Hills manor house and a multi-gradient vehicle drop testing facility which is being integrated into the wider landscape strategy.

Ana McMillin, Director at Broadway Malyan, said: “Our approach has been reverential to the distinctive character of the traditional Surrey village while also reflecting the beliefs of the early garden city designers who recognised the benefits of the natural environment for health, wellbeing and place.

“Longcross Garden Village is a place for a diverse new 21st-century community which will be a truly distinctive, unique and sustainable living and working environment.”