The first planning applications have gone in for the £750m redevelopment of the former BBC site in Manchester city centre.

Bruntwood and its residential development partner Select Property Group hope to gain permission for the first phase by the end of the year and start construction in late 2017 on the 2.5m sq ft mixed use site.

Chris Oglesby of Bruntwood, MSP and Corridor Manchester said: “We’ve produced a masterplan that embraces and exceeds the ambitions of the City’s Strategic Regeneration Framework to create a vibrant new neighbourhood including fantastic new office, residential, retail and leisure uses, alongside exceptional new public spaces and routes through the site.

“Its unique location, connecting the city centre with the Corridor Manchester, enables the site to support the cross-fertilisation and commercialisation of ideas and a public green will provide Manchester with a new open space for people to gather and dwell.”

Mark Stott, CEO of Select Property Group added: “It will be a place that draws you in, an extraordinary district for pioneering people and businesses who want to live and work side by side, innovating for the future.

“It’s an exciting time for the future of Manchester and we’re looking forward to sharing more information about the project throughout its development.”

The first planning application features some of the public realm plans, including new tree lined waterside walkways as well as two serviced apartment buildings designed to attract mature, postgraduate and international students.

This will be closely followed by 350,000 sq ft of commercial space.