Britain’s second largest supermarket chain has confirmed it is going ahead with plans to build an information technology centre at Ansty Park near Coventry.
The retailer, which has more than 1,200 outlets nationwide, is negotiating the purchase of land at the 100-acre West Midlands innovation complex before building two office blocks “to support its future business objectives”. Its state-of-the-art product development centre moved to Ansty Park early last year.
A planning application will be submitted to Rugby Borough Council this summer and, if approved, would see the eventual transfer of Sainsbury’s 220-strong IT from its current nearby base at Walsgrave Triangle to the new offices late in 2015.
Adjacent to Junction 2 of the M6 motorway, the first phase of the Ansty Park development is now complete — anchored by Sainsbury’s 136,000sq ft store support centre and its 120,000sq ft manufacturing technology centre — with a second round of development about to begin.
Last year’s relocations saw 150 human resources and property management staff from Sainsbury’s Holborn headquarters move into the former Ericsson buildings at the park.
Bruno Moore is the retailer’s head of supermarket town planning. “Moving to Ansty Park and opening our product development centre has allowed us to expand considerably,” he explained.
“This has benefited Ansty and the wider Coventry and Warwickshire area, bringing a significant boost to local economic growth. We want to continue investing in the park to provide us with the flexibility to meet our future business objectives,” said Moore, adding that Sainsbury’s intended to design and create a sustainable landmark office facility.
“We are keen to ensure that the additional buildings will complement the existing architecture and integrate with Ansty Park’s high-quality, landscaped setting.” Sainsbury said it was hoping for a swift decision from Rugby Borough Council planners.
Craig Humphrey, as council leader, stressed his authority would do everything it could to support the supermarket chain’s expansion plans. “Ansty is developing rapidly as an employment site of national significance and the announcement that Sainsbury’s is looking to increase its presence there in such a significant way is great news,” he said.
“I really am very proud of what’s being achieved at Ansty and Sainsbury’s announcement is fantastic news,” Humphrey commented. “The development will provide quality jobs for current and future generations of local people.”
Envisaged as an environment in which its technology and innovation-led tenants could share knowledge, phase two at Ansty Park will consist of six bespoke buildings ranging from 34,000sq ft to 90,000sq ft.
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