Frasers Group PLC (LSE:FRAS) has been granted planning permission to build a new 3.3 million sq ft HQ at Ansty, near Rugby, despite planners conceding it will cause "substantial damage" to the countryside.
"The totality of the benefits clearly outweigh the combined weight of the harm to the green belt and any other harm, including the retail and landscape harm, heritage harm and harm in respect to the failure to satisfy the sequential test,” said the council.
"Consequently, the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development do exist and the application should be approved."
The site will include warehouses, offices, a hotel, leisure facilities and an R&D centre.
Lee Hawkins, vice chairman of Ansty parish council, told the Mail: “There isn't a single person I know of, or have spoken to, or that lives in any of the surrounding villages, who is for it. Everyone is vehemently against it.”
Frasers is currently embroiled in a bitter boardroom battle with Boohoo Group PLC (AIM:BOO) over its demand that the online retailer overhaul its board and give the Sports Direct owner's founder and majority shareholder Mike Ashley a seat.
A vote on the proposals is scheduled for this Friday.