The self-storage industry is now worth around £1.3 billion, having grown by 5% in 2025. The UK has over 2,200 self-storage sites, providing more than 67.5 million square feet of storage space. The industry is forecast to continue growing rapidly.
Just 30 years ago, there was no established self-storage industry in the UK. The market began to develop as houses started to be built smaller and people increasingly bought more possessions without letting go of their existing ones.
In the early 1970s, entrepreneur Roger Dudding spotted an opportunity when he noticed that people were using lock-up garages to store their belongings. He helped establish the storage industry in the UK by acquiring ten lock-up garages in South London. He eventually went on to own 12,000 garages.
Data from the Self Storage Association shows that 27% of users require storage due to a lack of space in their homes, whilst 22% use storage when moving home, often as a result of downsizing.
Property consultants Cushman & Wakefield say there is strong interest in investing in the self-storage industry due to its long-term growth forecast.
A major change in the market is the growing use of shipping containers as self-storage units. Over 40% of new storage units in 2025 were converted shipping containers. In contrast, in cities such as Manchester, London and Bristol, architect-designed storage buildings featuring stone and bronzed cladding have been created to blend in with the surrounding architectural heritage.
For storage in the Liverpool area, talk to us at Merseyside Movers & Storers. We can collect your items and store them safely until you need them again.
