Circle Square development underway

by Lewis Browne

Controversial plans are set to go ahead on the former site of BBC studios on Oxford Road.

Circle Square is about to be transformed into a state of the art student living accommodation.

The site, which sits a short distance from MMU's All Saints campus, has been empty for a number of years and was previously used as a car park before designs were drawn up by development company Bruntwood last year 

Work on building two high-rise living blocks for students – one 12 storey and one 17 storey – began this month.

 Former MMU photography student Natalie Wardle said: “I feel sorry for the residents who will be affected by this but you also have to take into account the location for the tenants who are going to be moving in next year. The site is right near one of the busiest streets in the city and within walking distance from about three nightclubs; the noise will be way too much I think. It’s just more swanky unaffordable flats that the city does not need”

The former BBC site was built in 1975 and produced famous shows such as Red Dwarf, Dragons Den, Life On Mars and Mastermind before the building was demolished in 2012 after the BBC relocated the majority of its operations to Salford Quays.

Bruntwood and Select Property Group were unavailable for comment.