Amazon to shed unused UK warehouse space - report

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Feb 6, 2023

There was a time when warehousing in the UK was in short supply as the e-commerce boom shifted up several gears. No longer, it seems.

Following a review of operations amid a major hit to online spending since the pandemic, Amazon reportedly now wants to exit empty warehouses across Britain as it the reappraises growth plans.

It’s understood to have begun subletting unused big-box sites in Britain,  according to The Telegraph, following years of buying up warehouse space across the country.

The report says Amazon is estimated to have opened hundreds of warehouses globally during the pandemic, in a bid to make the most of the boom in online spending.

However, demand online orders have been less buoyant in recent months, with 2022 having been the toughest year for many e-commerce giants to date.

Amazon said it won’t comment rumour and speculation so there’s no confirmation, But the report said it’s looking at subletting units its has taken on but hasn’t yet started using, rather than those from which it already operates.

The news of the plans comes in the wake of a wider review of operations in the UK, which resulted in the US tech giant announcing earlier this year that it would be closing three warehouses in the country, putting 1,200 jobs at risk. 

Amazon is cutting around 18,000 roles from its global workforce  as the company reviews its footprint in the US too, and last year was reportedly also looking at subletting warehouses in America.