A former industrial estate is step closer to becoming a thriving town centre after it sealed approval from the Greater London Authority.

The £150m plan to redevelop the one million square foot former Felnex industrial estate has been rubber stamped by the Greater London Authority.

It will see 725 homes built as well as a new supermarket, doctor’s surgery, care home, offices and workshops, additional shops and a bus interchange.

The redevelopment will create 500 jobs and become one of the greenest places to live in the UK.

Developers Schroders will pump £3.6 million into the local area as part of their planning contribution which will include a new or expanded school, road improvements and two new crossings to Hackbridge Station.

The development will be centred around a public square, which will bring life and vibrancy to the heart of Hackbridge and create a new town centre.

Also included in the plans are open spaces and ‘edible gardens’, where residents will be able to help themselves to produce from communal fruit trees.

Councillor Jayne McCoy, Chair of the Housing, Economy and Business Committee at Sutton Council, said: "This groundbreaking development is the biggest regeneration project to get the green light in London in recent years and will transform this area of the capital.

"It will help us to achieve our vision of making Hackbridge the UK’s most sustainable place to live, work and visit a reality, so we’re thrilled by this major milestone in the development process."

The development is a key part of the ambitious Hackbridge Project - being lead by Sutton Council and it’s community partners - which aims to turn the neighbourhood into one of the UK’s first sustainable suburbs.

The Felnex site was first developed for industrial purposes in 1917, but most of the buildings are now vacant, with the rest used for storage or distribution purposes.

Work is expected to begin as soon as a detailed consent is obtained for the first phase which should be early next year.

Residents can find out more by attending the Hackbridge Community Forum, which next meets at 7.30pm on 28 June, at Hackbridge Primary School.