Amazon to Close Historic Milton Keynes Fulfilment Centre, Impacting 590 Workers

Amazon Announces Closure of First UK Fulfilment Centre

Amazon has initiated a consultation process regarding the proposed closure of its Milton Keynes fulfilment centre, a move that will impact approximately 590 workers. The facility, located at Marston Gate, holds historical significance as it was the first Amazon centre to open in the United Kingdom in 1998.

The e-commerce giant stated that the decision is part of an ongoing evaluation of its network to align with business needs and enhance the experience for both employees and customers. An Amazon spokesperson was quoted saying, 'We're always evaluating our network to make sure it fits our business needs and to improve the experience for our employees and customers.'

Worker Redeployment and New Northampton Facility

Affected employees will be offered opportunities to transfer to other Amazon sites, including a new, state-of-the-art fulfilment centre currently under construction in Northampton. This new £500 million facility is scheduled to open in May and is expected to initially employ 1,400 people, with plans to expand to 2,000 workers.

Amazon emphasized that supporting its workforce through this transition is a top priority. The company will engage in a collective consultation with the affected employees to facilitate transfers to the new Northampton site or other available positions within its network.

Continued Operations in Milton Keynes

Despite the closure of the Marston Gate fulfilment centre, Amazon's presence in Milton Keynes will not be entirely withdrawn. A separate, large sortation centre, also located in Milton Keynes (at Magna Park), will remain operational and is unaffected by these plans. This sortation centre forms a distinct part of Amazon's logistics operations in the region.