Sainsbury’s is to create a huge Midlands office campus after signing a development agreement for a major expansion at Ansty Park in the West Midlands.
The retail giant has agreed a deal with developer Highbridge and landowner the Homes & Communities Agency to build a quartet of office buildings totalling 215,000 sq ft.
A planning application for the scheme – which includes a new energy centre – has been submitted to Rugby borough council.
The scheme will cover 430,000 sq ft in total, with the four offices built around a new piazza.
Based on a capital value per square foot of around £300, the office element of the development could have a gross development value of £129m.
Bruno Moore, head of town planning for Sainsbury’s Supermarkets, said: “These plans support our future business objectives, providing further flexibility for our growing business.
“Our plans include provision for additional office space, meeting rooms and a new restaurant and cafe to accommodate potential growth at our store support centre.”
In total Ansty Park – which
is located off junction 2 of the M6 near Coventry – has the potential for around 1.5m sq ft of development.
Adrian Hill, director of Highbridge Properties, added: “Taken together with the University of Birmingham’s decision to locate its High Temperature Research Centre at Ansty Park and the Manufacturing Technology Centre’s expansion, there can be no doubt that Ansty Park has established itself as one of the leading business park developments in the country.”
Sainsbury’s opened its 150,000 sq ft Product Development Centre at Ansty Park in February 2013. The facility is home to its property, telecoms, IT, learning and development, general merchandise and clothing teams.
Additional staff based in Walsgrave are expected to be transferred to the new development.
Cushman & Wakefield advised Sainsbury’s.
jack.sidders@estatesgazette.com
