Plans for a new headquarters for JD Sports in Bury could be given the green light next week.

The proposals include a gym, restaurant, outdoor sports facilities and a creche building and would be located at the junction of Hollins Brook Way and Pilsworth Road, directly next to the existing JD offices and car parks.

A planning application proposes a complete redevelopment of the existing site to provide additional facilities to support the needs of its employees.

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The new facilities would provide hub building for offices, training, amenity areas and staff facilities, a multi-purpose all weather pitch and parking with landscaping and highway works.

A statement submitted to the council said: “The business is seeking to work with their employees to improve staff retention and have undertaken a series of internal reviews to understand the steps the business needs to take to achieve this.

“Coupled with the Covid-19 pandemic, this has seen a shift towards more flexible ways of working with the introduction of flexitime and working from home.

“In addition to these measures, JD recognise the need to update and improve on the benefits that the business provides for employees.

“First and foremost is the provision of childcare for employees with very young children to alleviate pressures on new parents and improve issues around annual leave over school holidays.

“Other requirements include an improved food and beverage offer on site, gym and recreation facilities, training environments and collaborative working spaces.”

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But there have been a number of objections to the plans from residents nearby.

Concerns over "no plan for controlled pedestrian crossings anywhere on Pilsworth Road", the two-year construction period causing disruption and the level of noise from the creche causing a nuisance to residents on nearby homes.

Another worry is that the football pitch closing at 9pm would create more noise and lead to a litter problem.

But planning report prepared ahead of a council planning committee meeting on Tuesday said: "Comparatively, it is considered the proposed development with controls to condition elements of the development in the future would be acceptable with causing significant detriment to residential amenity."

JD has also carried out its own community consultation with residents, which involved a meeting, and following feedback from neighbours, resulted in some adjustments to the scheme.

This involved reducing the height of the creche and revising the landscaping to the shared boundary.

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JD has also committed to engaging with the community throughout the construction phase.

Council planners have recommended that the application is approved by committee councillors subject to an agreement of a contribution payment towards highway improvement works taking place.

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