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Amazon confirms "Mega Box" warehouse near the Dartford Crossing set to open this summer

An e-commerce giant is on course to deliver a £205m "Mega Shed" set to be among the largest warehouses in Europe.

Amazon has confirmed it will open the new site in Dartford in August.

The Amazon Mega Shed is being constructed next to the Dartford Crossing and will be among the largest in Europe once completed
The Amazon Mega Shed is being constructed next to the Dartford Crossing and will be among the largest in Europe once completed

The £205m warehouse will be based on the site of the decommissioned Littlebrook Power Station, next to tunnel approach on the River Thames, and is expected to create at least 400 jobs.

When it’s completed this summer, the four-story “mega-box” will encompass 2.3 million square feet - equivalent to roughly 30 football pitches.

The facility will be powered by what is said to be the largest solar photovoltaic scheme of any new development in the UK, with 3.5MW capacity.

A spokesman for Amazon said: "We are pleased to confirm a new building in Dartford that will help us continue to serve customer demand in the local area and across the UK.

"Although still in the early days, we are progressing well with the project and expect to launch our building later this year."

The warehouse is being built on the site of the former decommissioned Littlebrook Power Station. Photo: Tritax Big Box
The warehouse is being built on the site of the former decommissioned Littlebrook Power Station. Photo: Tritax Big Box

Planning approval was granted to Tritax Big Box, the company behind the construction scheme last year, after confirming a contract with a "world-leading online retailer" - now confirmed as Amazon.

The logistics park was earmarked as being inside a critical "last journey" location inside the M25.

Construction got underway last summer when a skeletal white frame for the project was erected and endorsed by Thames Estuary Envoy Kate Willard.

The e-commerce giant is currently advertising online for a site leader and other positions but says a "mass recruitment" drive will be rolled out in due course.

Demand for warehouse space next to the Dartford Crossing is currently booming.

Online shopping has spiked during lockdown with retailers increasingly looking for large warehouses and logistics parks to base their operations.

Thames Estuary Envoy Kate Willard marked the construction of the new Dartford distribution centre last year
Thames Estuary Envoy Kate Willard marked the construction of the new Dartford distribution centre last year

Last year Dartford council approved two applications for a further five warehouses next to the Crossing.

Another large shed scheme on the existing Bridge development is being spearheaded next to sites currently occupied by Mercedes, Sainsbury’s and logistics firm DHL.

But residents living near the estate and busy motorway network say the traffic is already "beyond breaking point".

The area regularly suffers from congestion problems when there are incidents on the A282, often dubbed "the road to hell" on the approach to the Dartford Tunnel.

However, the developers behind the Amazon warehouse, have been backed by the Thames Estuary as part of its government investment scheme dedicated to projects which promote "good, green growth" .

It looks to encourage greener methods of energy production and transportation, with a view to increasing freight and passengers travelling on the river by 50% in a five-year period.

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