Amazon has announced Darlington as the location for its first UK drone delivery service following their promise of delivering to customers via its Prime Air initiative by the end of 2024.
The e-commerce giant plans to operate the service from its existing fulfilment centre in the County Durham town, subject to approval from local authorities and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
An Amazon spokesperson said: "Having already built safe and reliable drone delivery services elsewhere in the world in close partnership with regulators and the communities we serve, we are now working to do the same in the UK."
The company will need to secure planning permission for flight operations facilities at the Darlington site and obtain necessary authorisations from the CAA before launching the service.
Once operational, customers within the designated service area will be able to order items directly through the Amazon app or website for drone delivery.
What is Prime Air?
Prime Air has been operating in the United States since 2022, where it has successfully delivered thousands of packages to customers in 60 minutes or less using its fleet of electric drones.
The service forms part of Amazon's broader sustainability initiative, which includes the recent introduction of the UK's largest-ever fleet of electric delivery vehicles and the launch of rail deliveries across Britain.
Before beginning operations, Amazon has committed to engaging with the Darlington community to address concerns and gather feedback about the new delivery service.
The company said it will also work closely with the CAA to ensure compliance with the UK's developing regulatory framework for commercial drone deliveries.
About Amazon’s drones:
Amazon’s MK30 drone can carry packages weighing up to 2.2kg (five pounds) and delivers them typically within an hour or less.
Notably, it features double the flight range of previous models and can operate in more challenging weather conditions, including light rain.
The aircraft employs a vertical take-off system before transitioning to horizontal, wing-borne flight and incorporates advanced "sense and avoid" technology to detect obstacles.
This includes people, pets and property.
According to Amazon, a particular focus has been placed on noise reduction, with custom-designed propellers that cut the drone's perceived noise by almost half.
This makes it notably quieter than typical residential area sounds, even during descent.