JD Sports plan huge expansion of Bury HQ with gym,…

JD Sports plan huge expansion of Bury HQ with gym, running track and childcare centre for staff

Retail giants JD Sports are planning a massive expansion in Bury which would create 400 new jobs. The firm, who already occupy three buildings at their headquarters site at Hollins Brook Way, Pilsworth want to build a childcare centre and office campus facilities on vacant land next to their current offices.

The land for the proposed new headquarters is known as the former A-Plant site and the new campus headquarters would include an indoor gym and outdoor running track and sports pitch ‘to support the health and wellbeing JD team members’.

A planning statement from JD published by Bury Council, said: “JD is promoting a flagship development that would regenerate the vacant former A-Plant site to provide contemporary childcare facilities in a bespoke building, and a hub building containing offices to accommodate business growth and a range of supporting functions to serve the needs of the whole campus.

“The business is head-quartered in Pilsworth and has a long track record of profitable trading and growth, achieved organically and by acquisition. It is one of the borough’s most significant employers in terms of headcount and profile.

“The development advocated in this planning application is financially and symbolically of great significance; it would be a major investment in the Pilsworth campus, reinforcing its importance as a location at the very heart of JD Group operations.”

The vacant land, at the junction of Hollins Brook Way and Pilsworth Road. was last occupied as a plant hire depot operated by A-Plant and was demolished in autumn 2019. JD gave an indication of the potential increase in jobs if the planning application was approved.

The planning statement, said: “The development will consolidate and reinforce the facilities and function of JD Group’s headquarters, creating a high-quality campus location and with capacity for planned growth that would add 400 new jobs.”

The first of the two major buildings is the JD Hub, a four-storey building, ‘creating a new focus to the campus, incorporating offices, gym, restaurant and café facilities, meeting rooms and collaboration spaces, mock shop, presentation theatre and outdoor terraces’.

The second building would be ‘a purpose-built crèche caring for pre-school children, providing stimulating indoor and outdoor spaces for learning through play, aimed at meeting the childcare needs of JD team members’. Health and well being facilities would include a multi-purpose all-weather pitch, and exercise trail and an indoor events space with changing facilities above the childcare building.

Planners at Bury Council will deliberate on the plans in the coming weeks.