AG's Manchester RE team has acted on behalf of Bruntwood & Select Property Group as Joint Venture partners on the first stage of the former BBC Oxford Road site, which has just been given formal planning permission from Manchester City Council.

The project now named, Circle Square, is a 750m site which will be made up of two buildings, (one 12 storeys and one 17) and will include 716 serviced apartments spread over the two blocks, retail and commercial space for start-up businesses, as well as student accommodation. The building will also be surrounded by new external seating and a landscaped public space.

The AG team, which was led by Real Estate Partner, Stephen Kinsey and Corporate Partner, Michael Birchall alongside support from the firm's tax, banking and corporate divisions, advised Bruntwood and Select on the acquisition of the shares in Oxford Property Trading Limited, the owners of the former site, as well as the selling of the freehold to Manchester City Council.

The team who are longstanding advisers to Bruntwood, will continue to advise on this scheme, which forms part of a 10 year regeneration project of the former BBC site, Manchester Technology Campus and Armstrong House.