AMAZON insists it is still planning to create more than 1600 jobs at a former Jaguar site in Coventry.
It comes amid confusion following media reports that the online retailer and warehouse distribution company’s jobs total at Browns Lane could be half that.
Following the speculation, Amazon late yesterday wrote to Coventry City Council deputy chief executive Martin Yardley to confirm it is still planning for 1650 jobs, of which 800 would be in the first phase – the same figures that went before councillors on the planning committee when planning permission was granted last year.
The Amazon email states: “The 800 job number is first phase and we plan to reach the figures cited in the planning application in due course with future phases, as we normally open up and hire in phases.”
Councillor Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs and regeneration, said: “We can confirm Amazon is already seeking permission to extend the car parks because they know they will need it for all the extra workers.
“We remain more than confident, due to their obvious building plans at the moment, that this site will employ at least 1650 people going forward.
“They met with myself and (council leader) George Duggins last year to personally tell us this. They put it in the planning application and they have sought out Martin Yardley recently to further confirm employee numbers.”
A spokesman for Coventry City Council said: “Coventry City Council has been told on four separate occasions that there will be 1,650 jobs on the Browns Lane site and this was also included in their planning application.
“Any discussions with Amazon have reinforced the number of jobs that will be created which is 1,650 and we consider this recent announcement to be the first phase of the recruitment of these jobs.”
