Amazon has announced the permanent closure of its sorting office in Bristol, entering into consultation with affected employees. The move is part of a broader reorganisation of the company's operations in the area.
Details of the Closure and Relocation
The Cabot Park building in Avonmouth currently houses three operations under one roof: parcel deliveries, heavy goods deliveries, and a sorting office, employing around 430 people in total. Under the proposals, 295 staff working in parcel and heavy goods delivery departments will transfer to a new industrial site at Severnside near the M49. The 112,000-square-metre building at Axis Works is understood to have cost Amazon approximately £200 million and is currently being fitted out, with employees expected to move in October.
The sorting office, which employs 135 staff, will shut permanently at the end of August. Of these, 90 permanent staff will be offered jobs at Amazon's huge fulfilment site in Avonmouth. The 40 sorting centre employees on fixed-term contracts will work out their notice at the fulfilment centre before leaving the business. Five senior sorting office staff will be offered jobs elsewhere in the Amazon network.
Company Statement
A spokesperson for Amazon told Bristol Live: "We're always evaluating our network to make sure it meets our business needs and to improve the experience for employees and customers. As part of that, we're investing in a brand-new, purpose-built delivery station in Bristol four miles from our existing site in Cabot Park. All delivery station employees will continue their roles at the new site."
The spokesperson added: "As part of the same move, our sorting operation at the current building will close, and nearly all employees will be relocated to our nearby fulfilment centre in Avonmouth. For a small number of specialist roles, we're actively exploring options, including suitable positions within our UK network. We're consulting with every affected employee, and our priority is supporting them through this transition."
Impact on Operations
Amazon has a separate delivery station at Western Approach Distribution Park, next to the M49 'ghost junction', which is unaffected by the changes. The closure of the Bristol sorting office means the nearest sorting centres are now in Milton Keynes and the Midlands, both much larger sites.
Amazon employs some 75,000 people in the UK across technology, delivery, and warehouse roles, and has three sites in and around Bristol. Last month, it was revealed the company paid more than £1.3 billion in UK taxes last year, a rise of at least 20 per cent from £1 billion in 2024.
