PHASE one of Bruntwood’s £750m redevelopment of the former BBC site on Oxford Road, curiously branded ‘Circle Square’ last month, has been given the go ahead.
Circle Square will be surrounded by leading centres of knowledge, art, music and innovation
Designed by 5plus Architects, the £55m project from Select Property Group will provide 716 serviced apartments - predominantly occupied by international students - across two blocks of twelve and seventeen storeys. The higher block will also provide retail and start-up commercial space at ground level. The blocks will be surrounded by landscaped public realm ‘to enhance the location adjacent to the River Medlock’.
CGI: Circle Square's landscaped square... circle 5plus Associate Director Rhys Westacott, said: “These buildings will play a key role in the long term success of this area creating a place for bold and brilliant people to live and interact with each other and the city.
“We worked with Select designing the first new build Vita Student at First Street, Manchester, which has been a tremendous success and voted the UK’s most luxurious student accommodation. We are delighted that our buildings will be the first ones to be delivered here.”
Chris Oglesby, CEO at Bruntwood, commented: “Bruntwood and Select Property Group share a long-term commitment and desire to create an exceptional and extraordinary new community at Circle Square.
“Traditionally, creating such a significant new district would take a decade to deliver. By working collaboratively and in cooperation, we have already been able to dramatically reduce this timeline, such that, a new community of c. 1.42 million sq ft of floorspace will be delivered in the next three and a half years."
In total, Circle Square will comprise over 2.3 million sq ft of residential, commercial and public space.
Find out more at circlesquaremanchester.com
The tallest of the blocks on Charles Street
