Construction work on the first phase of the North West Bicester eco-town project is to start by the end of March.
Lead developer A2Dominion has started preparations for the Exemplar phase of 393 zero-carbon homes, all built using the latest green technologies.
The initial work will be for new access roads with housing construction to begin in August.
The developer has already started work to prepare the site for supplying utilities and old hedges on the site were relocated in March last year.
A2Dominion aims to make the Exemplar accessible for everyone in the Bicester community, with 30 per cent of the homes being offered as affordable housing.
It is hoped the first residents can move into the first built home on the Exemplar as early as spring next year, and the first-stage development should be finished by 2018.
A2Dominion’s group chief commercial officer and deputy group chief executive John Knevett said: “A2Dominion is proud to be at the forefront of the country’s first eco town.
“NW Bicester will be an example to future developments in establishing sustainable new communities in the UK.
“We will create an outstanding living environment, which will provide exceptional quality of life for residents without compromising the needs of our future generations.”
The Exemplar will include a primary school, community centre, eco-pub and an eco-business and retail centre.
The eco-town development will provide up to 6,000 new homes across the 1,000-acre site, which is detailed in a masterplan.
The planning application for the masterplan is set to be submitted to Cherwell District Council this spring.