Amazon has officially opened its latest low-carbon delivery station in Stockton-on-Tees, UK, a facility designed to establish new benchmarks for sustainable industrial construction in Europe. The 10,800m² logistics building opened on October 21 and serves as a testing ground for sustainable construction materials and energy-efficient technologies that could be adopted across the company’s international operations network.
The facility will serve customers across North Yorkshire and County Durham and joins Amazon’s network of more than 100 fulfilment centres and delivery stations across the UK. Its design combines lower-carbon building materials, renewable energy systems and operational efficiency measures to reduce emissions throughout the building’s lifecycle.
Advanced Materials and Construction Techniques
The facility distinguishes itself through its focus on sustainability in structural design and material selection. By incorporating mass timber, lower-carbon steel, concrete and other construction materials, the project has reduced construction-related carbon emissions by at least 20% compared with Amazon’s previous design standards.
The building and its parking structure use almost 1,500 tonnes of lower-carbon steel with high recycled content, produced using renewable electricity. More than 200 tonnes of mass timber beams complement the steel framework, reducing the carbon footprint associated with conventional construction methods.
Furthermore, the project incorporates more than 4,400m³ of lower-carbon concrete, alongside lower-carbon wall panels and roofing materials. The construction approach also prioritises locally sourced supplies and shorter supply chains to reduce the environmental impact of material procurement.
These measures form part of Amazon’s broader effort to test construction practices that can be replicated across its logistics network.
Operational Efficiency and Energy Standards
Designed to meet the UK’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard, the Stockton-on-Tees facility is the first building in Amazon’s global network designed to meet the latest version (v1.1) of the International Living Future Institute’s (ILFI) Zero Carbon Certification.
The building’s operational strategy combines rooftop solar panels with all-electric systems to minimise its carbon footprint. It is projected to consume approximately half the energy of a typical logistics building, achieving nearly three times the energy reduction required by its net-zero carbon certification.
Key efficiency measures include:
- Electric heat pumps: High-efficiency systems replace traditional gas heating to reduce operational emissions.
- Energy recovery systems: These systems recapture heat lost through ventilation, improving overall energy efficiency.
- Air curtains: Installed at loading dock doors, these help maintain stable indoor temperatures despite the continuous movement of delivery vehicles.
- Rooftop solar panels: Combined with all-electric building systems, these support the facility’s lower-carbon operational strategy.
- Water-saving fixtures: Plumbing systems are designed to reduce water consumption by approximately 20% compared with conventional designs.
The facility builds on Amazon’s earlier experience with ILFI’s Zero Carbon Certification, which has already been achieved by several of its buildings worldwide. However, certification requirements differ according to the standards in place when individual buildings are designed.
Following one full year of operation, third-party assessors will review the facility’s performance data in 2027 to determine whether it qualifies for formal certification. Amazon will also track and share the findings to inform the development of future logistics facilities.
Economic Impact and Local Investment
The £40 million project has created 100 local jobs, including positions for managers, supervisors and operations associates. Full-time operations employees receive competitive pay starting at £31,000 annually, alongside benefits such as private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, employee discounts and a company pension plan.
The development also reflects Amazon’s wider economic contribution to the Northeast of England. The company has invested more than £4.7 billion in the region since 2010. An independent report by Public First found that Amazon contributed £300 million to the Teesside economy in 2024, with nearly half of entry-level employees at its Stockton-on-Tees site previously unemployed or entering employment directly from education.
Alex Hallimond, the facility’s senior operations manager, highlighted the significance of the development for a region historically associated with heavy industry. He noted that the facility represents a shift towards automation, innovation and more sustainable industrial operations.
The project was delivered through collaborations with construction and engineering partners, including Caddick Construction, AECOM and SMR Architects.
Part of Amazon’s £40 Billion UK Investment
The Stockton-on-Tees delivery station forms part of Amazon’s commitment to invest £40 billion in the UK between 2025 and 2027. This represents the company’s largest investment outside the United States and is intended to support employment, infrastructure and technology development across the country.
Amazon’s investments in low-carbon facilities, transport electrification and sustainable packaging in the UK have totalled £3.5 billion over the preceding five years. According to an independent study by Frontier Economics, these investments have supported up to 34,000 jobs and generated additional economic value.
Since 2010, Amazon has invested more than £80 billion directly into its UK operations, creating tens of thousands of jobs across logistics, technology and corporate functions.
The Stockton-on-Tees facility provides an opportunity for Amazon to evaluate how lower-carbon materials, renewable energy and energy-efficient building systems can be integrated into large-scale logistics infrastructure. The findings from its first year of operation are expected to inform the company’s approach to future developments across its global network.