Amazon has confirmed its Kent facilities will not face the axe as it reveals three UK warehouses are set to close.

Following the announcement that the online retail giant would eliminate 18,000 roles across its worldwide operations, the company, which has facilities in Dartford and Hoo, has confirmed which of its UK warehouses are set for closure.

The firm is set to shut its sites in Hemel Hempstead, Doncaster and Gourock in the west of Scotland, where the staff totalling 1,200 people will be offered work at other locations.

CEO Andy Jassy revealed on Thursday, January 5, the company would cut more than 18,000 roles across several teams, including its Amazon Stores and People, Experience and Technology (PXT) organisations.

Mr Jassy said: "We are deeply aware that these role eliminations are difficult for people, and we don’t take these decisions lightly or underestimate how much they might affect the lives of those who are impacted.

"We are working to support those who are affected and are providing packages that include a separation payment, transitional health insurance benefits, and external job placement support."

He continued that the company, which employs around 1.5 million people worldwide, would communicate with impacted employees starting on January 18.

The company is also proposing to create two fulfilment centres – in Peddimore in the West Midlands and Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham – which would create 2,500 jobs over three years.

As well as a £205m warehouse near the Dartford Crossing which opened in 2021, the company has a distribution centre near Kingsnorth Industrial Estate in Hoo which opened in 2018.

The first Amazon Fresh store in Kent also opened in June last year in the Bligh's Meadow shopping centre in Sevenoaks.

The store has no tills, using 'Just Walk Out' technology to detect when products are taken from and returned to the shelves, meaning customers are able to leave the store without queueing for a check-out, and the charge is made to their Amazon account.