Amazon is set to shut down a fulfilment center, affecting 590 jobs. The closure of the Milton Keynes site, the first Amazon center established in 1998, is under consultation. Employees impacted by this decision will have the option to relocate to the new Amazon facility in Northampton or transfer to other locations.
The Northampton facility, costing £500 million, is expected to commence operations in May, initially hiring 1,400 employees with plans to increase to 2,000 staff members. Meanwhile, Amazon’s sortation center in Milton Keynes, a separate segment of its logistics operations, remains unaffected by the closure proposal.
An Amazon spokesperson emphasized the company’s continuous evaluation of its network to align with business requirements and enhance the experience for both employees and customers. The consultation aims to transition affected employees to the cutting-edge Northampton site or alternative Amazon sites, prioritizing support for the workforce throughout the process.
In a separate development, Amazon has initiated drone flight tests in preparation for the launch of its aerial delivery service in the UK by 2026. The company has begun limited drone flights from its Darlington base but has not yet initiated drone deliveries for customers. Once launched, eligible customers in Darlington will receive packages under five pounds within a two-hour timeframe.
Amazon confirmed the commencement of Prime Air drone flights from its Darlington fulfillment center, with deliveries anticipated to begin in 2026. The company is working closely with Darlington Council and the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure a smooth launch of the drone delivery service in the UK.
The drones have been engineered to operate quietly, comparable to noise levels of traditional van deliveries. Advanced onboard systems enable the drones to detect and avoid obstacles during descent, while sophisticated perception technology, powered by machine learning models, identifies various objects and airspace elements for safe and efficient flight operations.