GREEN belt fields near the village of Ansty are being eyed up by a retailer as the potential home for its its new global headquarters campus.
Frasers Group has revealed plans to build the campus on the site of Crowner Fields Farm, between the B4065 Hinckley Road/Main Road and the M6 near junction two.
Designed by architects Grimshaw – the firm behind the Eden Project and London’s Elizabeth Line – the campus would include logistics space, offices, research and development for the retail sector, a hotel and leisure facilities.
A gym, swimming pool, and bookable courts and pitches are also planned and would be open to the public.
Frasers Group – which owns Sports Direct, Flannels, House of Fraser, Game, Jack Wills, Sofa.com, Evans Cycles, USC, Frasers and Everlast – says the site would create up to 7,500 jobs.
A Frasers Group spokesperson said options for the potential new site had been explored in a bid to accelerate the business’ growth.
They said: “This area of Rugby has been identified as a high-growth employment area. Our vision builds on a high-value employment area and will amplify existing investment.
“The campus will be landscape-led, driven by responsible and sustainable design principles. Where possible it will retain, reinforce, and enhance the existing landscape character and features – and will also include open space which will be accessible to all.
“Our approach will be regenerative. This means that rather than simply mitigate the impact of the proposals, we will aim to improve the environment through development.”
The company has launched a public consultation on the plans, and intends to submit a planning application to Rugby Borough Council in the coming months.
Coun Heather Timms, who represents the Revel and Binley Woods ward on the council, said: “This application is in the green belt and completely outside the local plan for Rugby. As a local councillor I will be listening to the residents’ concerns in all the surrounding villages and supporting them.”
Public exhibitions on the plans will take place at Ansty Golf Centre on October 11 and 12 from 2-7pm.
Call 07496 675 302, visit www.j2-ansty.co.uk or email [email protected] for more information, or to take part in the public consultation before the closing date of October 21.
