Plans for the first phase of a new town with a population of 10,000 have been submitted.
The application for the first phase of Northstowe in south Cambridgeshire - the biggest new town since Milton Keynes - by joint promoters Gallagher and the Homes and Communities Agency includes proposals for 1,500 new homes and other related facilities.
A master plan for the whole of the new town - which could eventually see up to 10,000 new homes built - has also been submitted.
A previous plan was submitted in 2007 but eventually fell apart during the financial crisis.
The new "green development" town has been a point of contention for politicians, at times being included in Labour's "eco-towns" initiative and at other times being disqualified because it was not a 'zero-carbon' project.
Among the green initiatives to have survived the planning process include the Cambridgeshire Busway, built in 2011, "which runs along the eastern edge of the Northstowe site, and will provide an environmentally friendly and efficient public transport link to Cambridge, Huntingdon and St Ives".
The first 1,500 of the new homes will be built at Longstanton's bus stop.
Attention will also be paid during development to efficient uses of water, waste and energy, the council said.
Tim Wotherspoon, South Cambridgeshire District Council's cabinet member for Northstowe and new communities, said: "We are delighted the application for the first phase of new homes and community facilities at Northstowe has now been submitted as the town is vital to responding to the acute housing need in south Cambridgeshire.
"It will bring with it new jobs, a major boost for our flourishing economy, and will help address the need for affordable homes.
"We are very clear that the proposals must be best for existing and future communities and the views of our residents are key to that.
"This is to be our new town and all of us locally are determined to make it work well for everyone."
South Cambridgeshire District Council will now work with Cambridgeshire County Council to assess the application.
Northstowe Parish Forum - a group of 12 local parish councils near to the proposed new town - have helped with the preparation of the plan.
A decision on the plans is expected to take up to a year.