Amazon is set to shut down a fulfilment center in Milton Keynes, affecting around 590 jobs. The closure comes as part of a consultation process initiated by the company. This center, which was the first Amazon facility established in 1998, will offer affected employees the option to transfer to the new Amazon site in Northampton or to other locations.
The new £500 million Northampton facility is expected to open in May and will initially hire 1,400 employees, with a plan to increase the workforce to 2,000. While the fulfilment center in Milton Keynes is closing, the Amazon sortation center, a distinct part of its logistics operations also located in Milton Keynes, remains unaffected by the closure plans.
An Amazon spokesperson stated that the company continually assesses its network to align with business requirements and enhance the working environment for employees and customers. The spokesperson emphasized that the primary focus during this transition is to provide support to the affected employees.
In a separate development, Amazon has begun testing drone flights from its base in Darlington, in preparation for the launch of its airborne delivery service in the UK by 2026. These test flights, although limited in number, mark a significant step towards introducing drone deliveries for eligible Amazon customers in Darlington, allowing them to receive packages weighing less than five pounds within two hours.
The company confirmed that while drone deliveries have not yet commenced, the service is anticipated to officially start in 2026. Amazon is working closely with Darlington Council and the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure a smooth rollout of the drone delivery service. The drones have been designed to operate quietly, with noise levels comparable to traditional van deliveries, and equipped with advanced technology to navigate and avoid obstacles during flight.
By leveraging sophisticated machine learning models, the drones are capable of identifying various objects and potential hazards in the airspace, ensuring safe and efficient delivery operations.