The new venture launched by one of the city’s best known property figures has done its first deal just weeks after formally splitting from his previous employer.

Gary Taylor, who made his name delivering Brindleyplace, launched Altitude Real Estate LLP 10 weeks ago with business partners Stephen Tillman and Rob Bolton after all three announced they were leaving Argent earlier this year. Mr Taylor and Mr Tillman worked together at the developer and before that at Arup for more than 20 years while Mr Bolton worked for Argent for 18 months developing a residential land business.

The company, in partnership with real estate investor Resolution Property, has purchased the freehold of 80 acres of land set within the UK’s first eco town masterplan, at North West Bicester in Oxfordshire.

Housing developer, the A2Dominion Group, has an option to develop the site on securing full planning permission.

The site currently has been promoted for the first phase of the eco town and Cherwell Council passed a resolution to grant planning permission in August this year.