Bruntwood SciTech breaks ground at No.3 Circle Square

Construction work has started at No.3 Circle Square – the latest phase to be developed at the new neighbourhood within the Manchester Oxford Road Corridor innovation district.

The 267,000 sq ft development being brought forward by Bruntwood SciTech – the UK’s leading property provider dedicated to the growth of the science and technology sector – will feature 15 storeys of cutting edge workspace designed to facilitate collaboration and creative innovation.  

No.3 Circle Square follows in the footsteps of Bruntwood SciTech’s now fully occupied No.1 and No.2 Circle Square, which have welcomed businesses including Disney Streaming, Roku, Autocab - recently acquired by Uber and Octopus Energy.

Businesses based at Circle Square benefit from being part of a growing tech community, at the heart of Manchester’s innovation district which provides access to world class research and development facilities and the city’s extensive network of higher education institutions, including the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University.   

The latest addition to the Circle Square neighbourhood will pay tribute to Manchester’s Victorian and Edwardian architecture. Featuring a high quality red brick design by Bridge Architects, the new development will include ground floor retail and leisure space, as well as a communal lounge, event space and a roof terrace. 

Sustainability and green space have also been carefully considered in the design of No.3 Circle Square, with the development expected to achieve net zero embodied carbon during construction and BREEAM Excellent status, a NABERS 5 Star rating and an EPC A rating once operational. The building will benefit from an all-electric heating and cooling system with state of the art air source heat pumps, as well as smart metering, roof mounted solar panels, a smart BMS and local MVHR units to maximise efficiency and fresh air control to occupants. 

No.3 Circle Square will open onto Symphony Gardens, a new landscaped space designed to complement Symphony Park, which promotes biodiversity across Circle Square. High-quality amenities including cycle and shower facilities will also be included to encourage green travel. 

Bruntwood SciTech, a 50:50 joint venture between Bruntwood and Legal & General, has appointed Contractor GMI Construction Group to develop the £87m site, which is set for practical completion in Q1 2025.

Bradley Topps, commercial director at Bruntwood SciTech, commented: “With  No.1 and No.2 now fully let, and a successful consultation period complete, it’s exciting to see work now commencing at No.3. 

“Our goal for Circle Square has always been to provide the perfect synergy between sustainable, high quality workspaces and first-class amenities, and this latest development is in keeping with that ethos. 

“Bolstering the digital ecosystem within the Oxford Road Corridor will add vital capacity to  Manchester’s knowledge economy and showcase the wider region as a diverse international base for innovative science and tech firms to thrive. We look forward to seeing No.3 take shape with the support of GMI.”  

Marc Banks, GMI North West divisional managing director, said: “We are extremely pleased to be chosen by Bruntwood SciTech to deliver this high profile scheme in Manchester city centre. This contract win is a major statement in the market and underlines our intentions for the business in the North West and the UK. We look forward to demonstrating once again our track record in delivering state-of-the-art projects.”