Eversheds' real estate group has advised the Birmingham Alliance on its successful planning application for new Birmingham development the Martineau Galleries.

The £500m scheme includes a mix of offices, residential, leisure and retail space as well as underground parking.

Eversheds counts the Birmingham Alliance – a joint venture between Hammerson, Henderson Global Investors and Land Securities – as a regular client and also advised it on the city's iconic Bullring development five years ago.

Real estate partner Rod Bull led the Eversheds team, assisted by associate Paul Maile. The team started working on the project around 18 months ago, with Birmingham City Council granting permission for the development in January. The firm is also advising on land issues as well as planning.

One of the potential difficulties Eversheds had to address in the application submission was allowing both the Martineau Galleries and the extension of the Midland Metro rail line next to the site to go ahead simultaneously.

Timing on the project is still to be decided but it is expected to take at least two years to build.

The Martineau Galleries are the latest in a series of development projects in Birmingham, kicked off by schemes such as the Mailbox and the Bullring and continuing with the redevelopment of the City's Eastside and New Street Station.

Eversheds has acted on various regeneration schemes in the city over the past few years including Masshouse and Eastside as well as the Bullring.

Birmingham City Council was advised by its in-house legal team.