Online retail behemoth Amazon has announced plans to close a major fulfilment centre in Milton Keynes, a move that will directly affect hundreds of employees.
End of an era for Amazon's UK birthplace
The site in question is of historical significance, as it was the first Amazon fulfilment centre to open in the United Kingdom back in 1998. The company has now entered a period of collective consultation over a proposal to shut the facility. This decision puts 590 jobs at the Milton Keynes location under review.
Transfer options and new state-of-the-art facility
Amazon has stated that its top priority is supporting the workforce through this transition. All affected employees are being offered the opportunity to transfer to alternative sites. The primary destination is Amazon's brand-new, £500 million fulfilment centre in Northampton, which is scheduled to open in May.
This modern facility is described as larger and state-of-the-art. It is expected to initially employ 1,400 people, with that number rising to 2,000 in the future. Workers can also choose to transfer to other existing Amazon centres within the network.
Network evolution and continued UK investment
An Amazon spokesman explained the closure is part of an ongoing evaluation of its operational network to align with business needs and improve the experience for both staff and customers. The company emphasised that a separate Amazon sortation centre in Milton Keynes, which handles a different part of the logistics process, is not affected by this proposal.
This restructuring comes alongside significant continued investment by Amazon in the UK. In June, the firm pledged to invest £40 billion in the country over the next three years. This includes the opening of four new fulfilment centres and the development of two major warehouses in the East Midlands, due to launch in 2027.
