A developer has been appointed to deliver 4,500 homes on the Wyton Airfield.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), the Ministry of Defence’s property and services provider, has chosen Crest Nicholson to be the development manager for the site.

In addition to the 4,500 homes, there will be two primary schools, a secondary school, a district centre for shops, a doctors’ surgery and community facilities and will be built in line with “garden village principles” of creating a sustainable community.

Wyton’s airfield, which is expected to have a gross development value of £1billion, is expected to generate 8,000 new jobs in construction, office and retail sectors.

As part of the development, improvements will be made to public transport connections into Huntingdon and Cambridge.

Scott Black, group new business director at Crest Nicholson, said: “The transformation of Wyton Airfield into a thriving new community will be one of the most significant developments in the country.

“We plan to deliver around a third of the new homes and associated facilities ourselves, together with a significant private rental element and up to 470 MoD houses for local servicemen. We will then look to bring in other house builders to work alongside us and also look at ways to stimulate the self-build market.

“Key to the long term success of the project will be partnership working and building a positive consensus, not only with the DIO, but also with nearby communities, the local authority and key stakeholders.”

Mr Black added: “Our selection by the DIO to lead this important development underscores Crest Nicholson’s strong reputation and track record as a partner of choice to the public sector for designing and delivering high-quality sustainable communities. We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work alongside the DIO to realise the full redevelopment potential of this significant brown field site.”

Crest hopes to submit an outline application for the site in early 2016.

Matthew Punshon, DIO director asset strategy and portfolio, said: “Our priority is to provide the right sized estate to enable military effectiveness which is affordable to government over the long term. Where this allows us to release surplus land for development such as Wyton Airfield, it means that new homes can be provided where they are needed and helps to achieve wider government policies.”