Amazon switches operation from Carrick to new Titanic Quarter site
ONLINE retail giant Amazon has relocated its Northern Ireland base from Carrickfergus to Belfast.
Just over two years after opening an Amazon Logistics centre at Kilroot Business Park, outside the Co Antrim town, the retailer confirmed yesterday that it had moved to the Titanic Quarter in Belfast.
A total of 18 jobs were initially based at the Kilroot site, with another 130 driver jobs created through four independent firms.
Yesterday a spokesperson for the company said that 30 people would be working in the new warehouse — a 4,000 sq m unit at Channel Commercial Park, close to Catalyst Inc.
The site already includes a network of warehousing, with Bombardier understood to be among neighbouring occupants.
A spokesperson for the company told Business Telegraph: “We have relocated our Belfast site to a new location to serve our customers. We employ 30 people at our site and will continue to look for ways to get involved and invest in the Belfast community.”
In August, Amazon UK submitted a planning application to carry out a series of alterations to its new unit at the Oakbank warehouses within the Channel Commercial Park.
One of the documents indicated that 40 people would be working at the location, with up to 112 people using the site daily.
Amazon has already started to recruit staff for the new site.
Advertisements have appeared online for warehouse operatives, sort station associates and delivery drivers.
The jobs were listed “for a brand new Amazon site in Belfast which specialises in the delivery of retail items to the general public”.
Earlier this month the company, founded by multi-billionaire Jeff Bezos, announced it will raise its minimum wage in the UK to £9.50 an hour from November 1, with staff in London being paid a minimum of £10.50.
Amazon’s planning application has sought to insert two new external vehicle access doors and an external canopy at the unit.
It also planned to carry out external surfacing works and internal altercations, including changes to offices. The total floor space includes 3,750 sq m for storage and 165 sq m for offices.
Harrogate-based architectural firm SMR was taken on to carry out the application process.
The North Yorkshire company has a wealth of experience in large retail and warehouse projects for Amazon, Tesco and Waitrose.
While SMR’s original planning application for the alterations to the warehouse listed its client as “anon”, a second application was submitted last week for a new Amazon sign on the building.