Councillors have given the green light for the second phase of a new town in Cambridgeshire, the largest to be laid out in Britain since the 1960s.

When complete, Northstowe will have up to 10,000 new homes for an anticipated population of 25,000 people. Planning permission had already been given for the first 1,500 homes, primary schools, a sports hub and local centre with shops.

This week the Northstowe Joint Development Control Committee backed the Homes and Communities Agency’s (HCA) plans for the town centre, around 3,500 homes and facilities such as a secondary school – to be built alongside the first homes at the town – along with two primary schools.

The town is being developed jointly by Gallagher Estates and the HCA. At the meeting held at South Cambridgeshire Hall in Cambourne, full planning permission was also given for a new southern access road for the town that will provide a link toward the A14.

Planning conditions on the latest application mean no residents would be able to move into the new homes until the A14 is upgraded. The southern access road also has to be completed before any new residents move in.

South Cambridgeshire District Council’s cabinet member for strategic planning and chair of the Northstowe Joint Development Control Committee, councillor Tim Wotherspoon, said: ‘Outline planning permission for the second phase of the town is great news and a major milestone. Councillors will be meeting again next month to look at the detail of the developer agreement that will see millions of pounds invested in facilities at the town.

‘As always, we must make sure this is focused on the right priorities and everyone’s aim must be to make sure that the town is of the highest quality. I’m really pleased that we have been able to work with the joint promoters to make sure a secondary school is delivered earlier than in nearly every other development in the whole country. It is a fantastic result.’