Amazon development sees Rugeley become flagship
A multi-million pound scheme to redevelop the Amazon site in Staffordshire will see the site turned into one of the company's flagship locations say bosses.
Around 2,500 temporary workers are now expected to be taken on for Christmas and 350 permanently at the Rugeley base after proposals to carry out improvements at the site off Power Station Road were approved by Cannock Chase Council this week.
Henry Low, general manager for the company said they will be able to distribute more orders under the changes.
"This application represents a big opportunity for Amazon. We have always wanted this site to be one of our flagship stores," he said.
"This is the one big investment which will allow us to continue to grow.
"I see this as an extremely positive development for Amazon, for the site and the local area."
The scheme involves creating a new entrance and extra car parking spaces. A new roundabout would also be created, as well as a bus stop.
There would be a new lorry park to the northwest of the site and a four-arm roundabout to provide access to a HGV waiting area. That would be linked to the existing south service yard to create an on-site lorry parking area for up to 40 HGVs.
A new staff parking area would also be created close to the new employee entrance, providing 344 spaces, while a new access road to the site would be built off Wheelhouse Road.
Members of the Cannock Chase Council planning control committee approved the application. However, clarifying what conditions will be attached to the development was delegated to officers.
Councillor Frank Allen said: "I see this development as going some way to actively providing employment."
Councillor Paul Fisher said there had been concerns raised about noise, but was content that had been resolved when the company first moved in and welcomed the plans.
"If firms like Amazon are prepared to invest absolute millions of pounds in our community hopefully other big companies will look to put their distribution centres in the Cannock Chase area," he said.
A report to the council on the proposals said: "Overall, the proposed development represents a significant investment into the Amazon site, and into the Cannock Chase District as a while, which would facilitate the expansion of the business and provide better access and parking facilities to cope with the proposed expansion.
"The development is also likely to result in the creation of more new jobs in the council area over the next few years."
