Amazon has announced a consultation to close its first UK fulfilment centre, opened in 1998, putting 590 jobs at risk.

The site at Marston Gate in Brogborough, Bedfordshire, near junction 13 of the M1, was the company’s inaugural UK warehouse, according to BBC News and The Guardian. Amazon said affected staff would be offered transfers to other sites, including a new £500 million fulfilment centre in Northampton, due to open in May. The Northampton facility will initially employ about 1,400 people, rising to 2,000, according to the company.

Amazon said it was “always evaluating our network to make sure it fits our business needs and to improve the experience for our employees and customers,” with a spokesperson adding that its “top priority is to support our people during this process,” according to ITV News Anglia and The Guardian.

The company confirmed its separate sortation centre at Magna Park, Milton Keynes, employing 1,100 people, would not be affected, according to all four outlets.

The proposed closure comes alongside a wider UK expansion. Amazon has said it plans to invest £40 billion between 2025 and 2027, including four new fulfilment centres and additional delivery stations, Retail Gazette reported. The Bedfordshire consultation will determine final arrangements for transfers and timing, the company stated.

Worker representatives warned of the personal impact of relocation. “The decision to close a depot may be a simple one for the likes of Amazon, but the decisions our members face over the coming months won’t be so easy,” Mick Lancaster, GMB regional organiser, told ITV News Anglia. He added: “We know many of our members live in the local area and have planned work around caring responsibilities and other family commitments.”

Local authorities said they would support affected staff. Central Bedfordshire Council said it would work with Amazon through the consultation and help residents into alternative employment, according to ITV News Anglia. A large Amazon sortation operation in Milton Keynes remains unaffected, the company said.

Industry experts noted strong demand for logistics roles. Dr Ioannis Koliousis from Cranfield University told ITV News Anglia that “jobs in this sector in particular, logistics, distribution and supply chain management, are quite in demand,” adding “people can easily find jobs in this sector.”

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