Amazon has announced it will be creating 1,000 permanent jobs at its new fulfilment centre on Summit Park, Sutton.

The 1,750,000sq ft centre, located off the Mansfield and Ashfield Regeneration Route (MARR), will be equipped with advanced robotic technology.

The company has started recruiting for a range of roles, including engineers, HR and IT professionals, health and safety specialists, finance specialists and operations managers.

The formal announcement ends months of speculation and Coun Jason Zadrozny, leader of Ashfield District Council, said: “It is fantastic that Amazon have announced they’ll be opening their latest fulfilment centre in Ashfield. This is possibly the largest-ever single investment in the Ashfield area and in the region as a whole.

“The council has worked hard to attract a large multi-national to the district, and that hard work has paid off. An investment like this is a real game changer for the district and the amount of further investment it will bring will have an incredible effect on Ashfield.”

Amazon plan to open the fulfilment centre in the autumn.

Carol Cooper-Smith, council chief executive, added: “The site was originally infrastructured to attract a business of this size, and through the hard work of all involved, securing a multi-national organisation like Amazon will bring real benefits to the district.

“Investment attracts investment, and with that comes high-quality jobs and incredible career opportunities for Ashfield residents. Building aspirations is something the council is committed to achieving and the possibilities companies like Amazon can bring to the district are endless.”

Plans also include a bus route and on-site bus station that will ensure jobs are accessible to all.

Coun Zadrozny continued: “At a time when many industries are cutting jobs due to the effects of coronavirus, having over 1,000 new jobs coming to Ashfield will have a significant impact on the district. We will be working closely with Amazon with their recruitment and any opportunities to work with local communities. I would personally like to welcome Amazon to Ashfield.”

East Midlands Chamber deputy chief executive Diane Beresford added: “We all know the challenges facing the employment market right now so this is exactly the kind of positive announcement the region needs with high-quality jobs offering salaries well above the National Living Wage.

“The latest figures by the Office for National Statistics this week showed that the unemployment rate for April to June had risen by 0.6 per cent to 4.3 per cent compared to the previous quarter.

“Finding alternative employment for these people whose livelihoods have been affected by the economic crisis we find ourselves in is so important.

“As the world continues to shift towards online shopping, our region’s position in the centre of the country makes us a very desirable location for companies to invest in their logistics operations.

“We see this growing and innovative industry being a really key part of our economy as we come out of Covid-19 that should be wholeheartedly embraced by people in the East Midlands.”