The four-part miniseries, which will begin production in summer 2016, will be produced by Colin Callender's Playground with City Entertainment and KippSterEntertainment.

"Howards End," according to the online industry website, "explores the changing landscape of social and class divisions in early 20th century England through the prism of three families: the intellectual and idealistic Schlegels, the wealthy Wilcoxes from the world of business, and the working class Basts."

In a statement Lonergan, who made his Broadway playwriting debut in 2014 with This Is Our Youth, said, "I’m very proud to have been entrusted with this adaptation of 'Howards End' for the BBC. The book belongs to millions of readers past and present; I only have the nerve to take it on at all because of the bottomless wealth and availability of its ideas, the richness of its characters and the imperishable strain of humanity running through every scene. The blissfully expansive miniseries format makes it possible to mine these materials with a freedom and fidelity that would be otherwise impossible. It’s a humbling and thrilling creative venture transporting the Schlegels, Wilcoxes and Basts from the page to the screen. I hope audiences will enjoy spending time with them as much as I do."

Other Lonergan plays include The Waverley Gallery (1999), Lobby Hero (2002) and The Starry Messenger (2009).

"Howard's End" was also the basis for the 1992 Oscar-winning Merchant Ivory film that starred Anthony Hopkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Emma Thompson and Helena Bonham Carter.