Amazon applies to amend Deeside delivery centre plans to accommodate electric vehicle roll out

Online retail giant Amazon has applied to make changes to its plans for a delivery centre in Deeside to accommodate the roll out of electric vehicles. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Earlier this year, the company announced it would be opening a new facility on The Airfields site in Sealand – creating more than 50 jobs. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Proposals for the 9,000 square metre building were approved by councillors in January. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The firm has now asked to alter some elements of the layout as it looks to introduce electric delivery vehicles from next year. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A planning consultant acting on Amazon’s behalf said the changes were only small in nature, including an amendment to flood mitigation measures. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In a letter to Flintshire Council, Alex Cole said: “The purpose of the application is primarily to enable the applicant to futureproof the site for electric vehicles by amending the approved reserved matters scheme, as well other minor site alterations. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It is the occupier’s intention to roll out an electric van fleet in the short to medium term, and as a consequence the proposed amendments seek to expand the area of hardstanding to the east of the warehouse in an area of residual land to accommodate the necessary spacing between van parking spaces and associates services and ducting for the electric vehicle charging infrastructure. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The flood consequences assessment submitted with the application sets out the proposed changes to the drainage strategy for the site. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It should be noted that the changes to the drainage system form are consistent with outline planning permission.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The company previously revealed it was aiming to open the facility this spring and will work with more than a dozen independent delivery companies. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Packages will be shipped to the delivery station from Amazon fulfilment and sortation centres and loaded onto vehicles to be taken to customers in Flintshire and Cheshire. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In addition, it is expected that the delivery companies will hire around 300 drivers who will collect the parcels. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The local authority is expected to make a decision on the altered plans in the near future. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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