Drone deliveries in Darlington have taken a step forward after Amazon received the green light to build a launch pad at its site in the town.
The e-commerce giant announced in January it had chosen the town for its first UK trials of drone deliveries, known as Prime Air.
The unmanned MK30 drones will carry a number of items on each flight and drop them from its cargo bay from a few feet above a landing site. They will take off from Amazon's 465,000 sq ft warehouse at Symmetry Park just outside the town, and deliver within a 7.5 mile area.
Plans moved forward this week with Amazon obtaining planning permission from Darlington Borough Council to build a fenced compound for launch and landing pads.
The Prime Air operations are estimated to add 10 to 15 staff to the centre.
An Amazon spokesperson said: "This is an exciting step towards bringing drone delivery to customers in Darlington.
"Work is now underway at our fulfilment centre at Symmetry Park, and we’re hiring for specialist roles, as we prepare for the first flights.
"We’re continuing to work closely with Darlington Council and the Civil Aviation Authority on this innovative first for the UK."
Drones will deliver parcels weighing up to 2.3kg in a first-of-its-kind endeavour for the UK.
The trial will initially operate only in daylight and good weather.
The Echo understands that Darlington was chosen because it has so many features such as housing density, major roads and the airport within the same tight area.
Darlington Borough Council's planning permission is time-limited due to uncertainty over long-term noise impacts.
The plans received an objection from the landlords of 13 properties on Lingfield Close, who raised concerns about noise, disruption, and potential impacts on safety, privacy, and wildlife.