'CIRCLE SQUARE, is set to be a diverse and unique place where discoveries and ideas can thrive, and the name is an intentional contradiction that invites curiosity and perfectly depicts the vision for the area.'
What will certainly happen is that this area of the city will be galvanised and gain a new identity all of its own despite the childish play on words of the new name.
Bless the branders and marketeers but that sentence above is plain weird. Basically it says the vision for the former BBC site on Oxford road is an 'intentional contradiction'. Not sure how they square that circle.
The name comes from joint venture partners Bruntwood and Select Property who see this 'as a key development for Corridor Manchester' (Oh no now we've got a Circle Square on a Corridor). Corridor Manchester is the name used by property professionals for Oxford Road and all its attendant institutions particularly university and medical. Everybody else calls it Oxford Road.
Anyway, the prime site is intended to deliver 'over 1.1million sq ft of residential, commercial and public space. If approved, the planning application will deliver a value of over £360million whilst creating over 2000 jobs for the city.
'Central to the site will be two collaborative spaces designed to encourage a blend of people and businesses to come together. The Green and a 20,000 sq ft pavilion will provide additional events space for the city, offering opportunities for a wide variety of staged and pop-up events.
Circle Square'The 617,848 sq ft residential space, which spans across four state-of-the-art buildings, will be operated under Select’s Affinity Living brand and the 390,000 sq ft of commercial space will be delivered by Bruntwood.
'The ground floors of both the residential and commercial spaces are being converted into an 82,000 sq ft retail destination, designed to attract a mix of independent and complementary retail and leisure operators to the area.'
The idea is create a 'top global innovation district'. What will certainly happen is that this area of the city will be galvanised and gain a new identity all of its own despite the childish play on words of the new name. It's good news for the city, Bruntwood are a good developer.
Chris Oglesby, CEO at Bruntwood, commented: “Circle Square will evolve into a fully integrated residential and commercial neighbourhood, contributing to the city’s continued economic and cultural success at the heart of Corridor Manchester. “It will be surrounded by leading centres of knowledge, art, music and innovation and will offer a compelling reason for existing talent to stay in Manchester, whilst attracting new talent to study, live, work and play here.”
