Frasers Group has received official backing for its new Warwickshire headquarters, despite a report finding that it will permanently damage the county’s green belt.
The 275-acre facility in Ansty has been recommended for approval by planning officials even though they noted that it would “clearly cause substantial and permanent harm to the green belt by reducing its opened”, The Telegraph reported.
Planning officers ruled in a 208-page report that the benefits of the campus – thought to be the biggest of its kind in the UK – justify the “harms” to green belt land, labelling it “very special circumstances”.
As part of the plans, the Sports Direct owner is looking to build five warehouses totalling 3.3m sq ft, a 100-bed hotel, a space to test out retail concepts alongside offices, a gym, sports facilities, multi-storey car parks and a helipad on the land it bought for £53.3m three years ago
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Planning officers said: “The totality of the economic, environmental and social benefits have been considered and the totality of the benefits clearly outweigh the combined weight of the harm to the green belt and any other harm, including the retail and landscape harm [and] heritage harm.
“Consequently, the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development … exist and the application should be approved. National economic benefits hold substantial weight in the balance.”
The retailer, which was founded by Mr Ashley in 1982 and owns brands including Sports Direct, Flannels, Jack Wills and Evans Cycles, will also produce around £9m in business rates for the council.
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