Starting a container self-storage business in the UK
Hi all,
I’m based in the South West of the UK and I’m looking to get into container self-storage.
At the moment, the biggest challenge is finding suitable sites. I’ve been searching on-market opportunities, speaking with commercial agents, and also using Searchland to look for off-market sites. A few commercial agents have said that suitable sites rarely come up, especially anything with the right access, visibility, planning potential and proximity to decent population centres.
I’ve also been looking into local per-capita storage rates. A lot of advice online mentions trying to stay below 1 sqft of storage per capita, but in the areas I’ve been looking at, I’m struggling to find anywhere below 2 sq ft per capita. I’m not sure whether that makes the market too competitive, or whether container storage can still work if the site, pricing and local demand are right.
For context, I’m 20 years old and work as a commercial property negotiator. The plan would be for me to find and operate the site, while going into business with my uncle, who would likely fund the project. He previously owned a small self-storage business alongside his former furniture business, which he later sold, so he understands the basics of the sector. He is now a residential property developer and investor, so he has good experience with property, development, funding and site potential, but he would prefer to be fairly hands-off. I would be taking the reins day to day.
I’m mainly looking for advice on:
- How people found their first container storage site
- Whether on-market sites are usually a waste of time
- How to approach landowners off-market
- What planning/use-class issues to watch out for in the UK
- What per-capita storage figure people would actually consider too high
- Whether small brownfield yards, industrial land, old garages or spare land beside existing businesses are worth targeting
- Any red flags when assessing a potential container storage site
Any advice from people who have done this before would be massively appreciated. I’m especially interested in how you found your first site and what you would do differently if starting again.