Amazon confirms plan to shut Marston Gate centre following consultation
Amazon has confirmed that it will close its Marson Gate fulfilment centre.
The company says it has made the decision following a ‘comprehensive collective consultation’ – and that all employees are being given the opportunity to transfer to its new Northampton building, or to other Amazon locations.
An Amazon spokesperson said: “The Marston Gate site holds an extraordinary place in our history – it's where Amazon's UK story began 28 years ago. As our first UK fulfilment centre, nearly a billion items have been delivered from this site, and we're immensely proud of everything the team has achieved.
“The new £500 million Northampton building will employ nearly four times as many people and will feature our latest cutting-edge technology and modern facilities. Individual consultations are now beginning, and our top priority is continuing to support our people during this process.”
The Northampton site will employ around 2,000 people by the end of the year, and is scheduled to start operations in May.
Amazon added that it is set to invest £40 billion in the UK over three years between 2025 and 2027 – including building four new fulfilment centres, including the Northampton site.
The nearby Amazon sortation centre in Milton Keynes is unaffected by this decision.
Amazon first revealed its plans to close the Marston Gate site in January this year.
Central Bedfordshire Council said it was ‘standing by’ to support Central Beds residents impacted by the plans.
It said at the time: “Amazon is one of Central Bedfordshire’s biggest employers and we are disappointed to hear of the firm's proposal to close their Brogborough site.