Online digital giant Amazon to close Gloucester warehouse

Online retail giant Amazon has announced it is shutting down its operations in Gloucester.

The company said is disposing its Gloucester Centre Severn distribution centre.

The site will now be sub-let according to a statement issued by the company.

The warehouse opened in autumn 2021 and the original plan was to have 20 permanent employees  and 90 delivery drivers.

However, the purpose-built site which is on the A417 road, has never been fully operational.

A spokesperson for Amazon said: “We are always evaluating our network to make sure it fits our business needs and to improve the experience for our employees and customers. As part of this, the vacant site in Gloucester will be sub-let.”

In January this year, Amazon said it is to shut three UK distribution centres affecting 1,200 jobs.

Sites in Hemel Hempstead, Doncaster and Gourock in Inverness, Scotland have been earmarked for closure.

The company claims that two new fulfilment centres, located in Peddimore and Stockton-on-Tees, will create 2,500 new jobs over the next three years.

Members of the GMB union went on strike for second time this week in Coventry in a dispute over pay.