Amazon's UK footprint has grown to nearly 20 million square feet across 32 fulfilment centres, with the latest mega warehouse opening last week near Northampton. The four-storey facility beside the M1 is now the company's largest in the UK, boasting 2.2 million square feet of floor space—comparable to the Trafford Centre, the UK's third-largest shopping centre.
Amazon's Warehouse Network Outpaces Shopping Centres
Combined, Amazon's 32 fulfilment centres cover enough space to fill 250 football pitches. That is seven times larger than Westfield London in Shepherd's Bush, Europe's biggest shopping centre, and nine times the size of the Trafford Centre. Major warehouses in Doncaster, Dunfermline, Wakefield, and Swansea each exceed one million square feet. The oldest of these hubs opened in 2008, with most built in the last decade.
High Street Decline and Job Losses
While Amazon expanded, Britain's traditional high streets suffered. Around 300,000 retail jobs have disappeared over the past 15 years. At the turn of the century, retail accounted for nearly 20% of all UK jobs; today, that figure has fallen to roughly 13%. MPs and campaigners urge communities to shop locally to support small businesses rather than rely on online convenience.
Criticism Over Tax and Working Conditions
Union leaders challenge Amazon over working conditions and lack of union recognition. Rachel Fagan, GMB Organiser, said: "Workers in Amazon warehouses generate enormous wealth every single day. Yet billions in UK sales and hundreds of millions in profit result in a pitifully low corporation tax bill." Last month, the JustMoney Movement launched a campaign to "break the Amazon habit," calling on Christians to avoid the company over its tax practices. Director Rosie Venner added: "Amazon's growth has contributed to the decline of local businesses and high street jobs because of the ease and convenience of its business model." Amazon legally complies with UK tax laws and reported paying £1.3 billion in UK tax last year. It has offered to help the government tackle VAT evasion in online sales.
Amazon's Defence and Investment
Amazon insists its growth does not come at the expense of the High Street. A spokesperson said the contrast with physical retailers is "simplistic," ignoring long-term trends like rising operating costs and changing consumer behaviours. "Retail is multi-channel. It's not about online versus offline—customers want both, and so do retailers. The fact is, Amazon is delivering jobs for the UK. We employ 75,000 people, are one of the country's largest employers, and support thousands of UK small businesses to grow by selling in our store." Amazon has pledged £40 billion investment over the next 18 months. Retail analyst Bill Grimsey agrees Amazon is not responsible for high street decline: "The point is, as a community, we do not want a high street for commercial transactions... I agree with Amazon, they are giving us convenience."
Full List of Amazon Fulfilment Centres
- 2008 Swansea (1m sq ft)
- 2010 Peterborough (500,000 sq ft)
- 2010 Doncaster (1m sq ft)
- 2011 Dunfermline (1m sq ft)
- 2015 Dunstable (310,000 sq ft)
- 2016 Coalville (950,000 sq ft)
- 2016 Manchester (near airport) (500,000 sq ft)
- 2017 Daventry (500,000 sq ft)
- 2017 Doncaster (500,000 sq ft)
- 2017 Warrington (250,000 sq ft)
- 2018 Coventry (700,000 sq ft)
- 2018 Tilbury (500,000 sq ft)
- 2018 Bolton (500,000 sq ft)
- 2019 Bristol (500,000 sq ft)
- 2019 Rugby (280,000 sq ft)
- 2019 Derby (500,000 sq ft)
- 2020 Mansfield (500,000 sq ft)
- 2020 Darlington (465,000 sq ft)
- 2020 Durham (500,000 sq ft)
- 2021 Swindon (500,000 sq ft)
- 2021 Hinckley (700,000 sq ft)
- 2021 Doncaster (500,000 sq ft)
- 2021 Dartford (500,000 sq ft)
- 2022 Wakefield (1m sq ft)
- 2022 Knowsley (600,000 sq ft)
- 2023 Chesterfield (500,000 sq ft)
- 2023 Gateshead (460,000 sq ft)
- 2024 Nottingham (500,000 sq ft)
- 2024 Sutton Coldfield (500,000 sq ft)
- 2024 Leeds (500,000 sq ft)
- 2025 North Ferriby (500,000 sq ft)
- 2026 Northampton (500,000 sq ft)
