The Garsington Opera festival is to leave its home of more than two decades for pastures new.

The annual festival, which began at Garsington Manor in 1989, is set to move 15 miles to the Wormsley Estate on the edge of the county.

The 2,500-acre estate, the former home of the late Sir John Getty and his family, lies between Watlington and Stokenchurch.

Subject to planning consent, a new auditorium will be built in the grounds of the 18th-century country house ready for the first productions in 2011.

Garsington Opera was set up by Leonard Ingrams, who died in 2005, and the month-long event has become part of the English summer social scene, although it was not always plain sailing before plans to relocate were announced two years ago.

In 1996, neighbours won £1,000 compensation for noise disturbance caused by the performances but the decision was overturned on appeal.

Five years later, local residents tried, unsuccessfully, to use the Human Rights Act to stop the festival, saying it prevented them from having the right to the “peaceful enjoyment of their possessions".

Mr Ingrams’ widow Rosalind, president of Garsington Opera, said: “Garsington Opera was an all-absorbing passion for my husband, and we both derived a huge amount of pleasure from staging it.

“My family and I are delighted that an appropriate new home has now been found where the opera can continue and grow.”

Iain Mackinnon, chairman of the board of Garsington Opera, said: “We are extremely fortunate to have found such a terrific new location. It has many merits, not least being near our former home.

“We feel very excited that a new era is opening for us. Garsington Opera will remain independent and autonomous within the context of activities at Wormsley.”

Anthony Whitworth-Jones, general director of Garsington Opera, said: “Over the years Garsington Opera has become known for introducing lesser-known works of genuine interest and artistic merit, and for attracting young and talented singers on the threshold of their careers.

“Our new home at Wormsley will enable us to continue that tradition in a thrilling environment, and marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our history.”

Mark Getty, from the Wormsley Estate, added: “We are delighted – I see Garsington Opera forming a central part of a vibrant cultural future for Wormsley Estate.

“It is also important to us that Garsington Opera will bring its terrific outreach activities to benefit schools and others in the local area with an interest in the performing arts.”