JD begins work on 'world-leading' campus that will rival Facebook, Google and Nike offices

Last year, the firm received planning permission build a headquarters to rival ‘Facebook, Google and Nike’ which includes space for 2,000 workers and a 120-capacity crèche.

The sports and leisure firm described the move as ‘a pinnacle moment in our company’s history’. The firm said it needed to invest millions its Pilsworth Road campus to create a working environment to ‘attract talent’ to work for them and rival the facilities provided by global brands and tech firms.

The retailer has now published details of the second phase of the project including a hub building with a large gym. JD Group have more than 60,000 employees across 29 countries.

A design and access statement lodged with Bury Council in the past week describes the next part of the work. It said: “Our Bury headquarters is currently operating out of three buildings on the Pilsworth Road site where we employ around 1,300 people, making us one of the largest employers in Bury.

“Refurbishment of the existing office space is already underway to bring the working environment in line with contemporary standards. The proposal seeks to bring together the various elements of the existing campus into one focal point in the centre of the site, whilst responding to the context of the wider campus development and beyond.

“The development of the hub building introduces an atrium which joins two wings with glazed façade. A bridge connects the two wings and provides circulation across the main atrium.”

The site of the new building is a former industrial site known as ‘A-Plant.’It sits to the west of the remaining JD campus, overlooking Hollins Vale Nature Reserve to the south and fronting Pilsworth Road to the north.

The report said: “Development of the ‘A-plant’ site presents an exciting opportunity to complete the campus.”