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Self storage corridor lined with bright yellow unit doors

Self Storage Construction & Conversion Open for customers on your date: start with a free site feasibility and cost plan, across London and the UK.

Our track record

100% of projects delivered ahead
of programme and on budget

What our clients get

  • 60%of site labour is our own, so your opening date never waits on another firm
  • 10 weeksan empty basement turned into a commissioned data centre for a London headquarters
  • 0snags when you take the keys, and every certificate in the file
  • £10Minsurance cover, ISO and CHAS, ready for your lender and insurer

Built backwards from your opening date

A storage building earns nothing until the doors open, and each late month pushes back the lease-up. So we plan every job from the day you need to trade.

Send the site plans or the agent's particulars. We check the use class, the slab, the clear height and the fire strategy, then cost the scheme, free. Then one team acts as your self storage builders and fit out contractors, from first drawing to handover.

We build across London and the UK, from Bethnal Green and Aldgate to Banbury and Manchester. See all locations.

Large steel-clad warehouse building behind a blue site gate

Trusted by leading businesses

  • Trainline
  • Auto Trader
  • YouTube
  • Medusa
  • Fuse
  • Drakes
  • PTOS
  • Close Connections
  • Marnie
  • Vortex Post
  • Minds Ahead
  • Missy
  • Fora
  • Gama Healthcare
  • Equinix
  • Hubble
  • B-Engineering

Everything a self storage facility needs, under one contract

Phased works for stores that stay open, and one specification repeated on every site you add. Part of our design and build main contractor service; distribution sheds sit under warehouse construction, other shed refits under warehouse conversion.

Exposed steel portal frame rafters and columns against bright sky

New-build storage facilities

Steel-framed stores on a cleared or brownfield site, from groundworks and frame to cladding, loading doors and a finished reception.

Empty steel-framed warehouse with clean concrete slab and roof lights

Warehouse to self storage conversions

Empty sheds, industrial units and retail boxes stripped out, repaired and turned into storage over one or more levels.

Steel gallery walkway with railings running between tall shelving

Mezzanine floors

Extra lettable levels inside the height of the shed: steel deck, protected stairs, guarding and a goods lift, approved by building control.

Storage corridor with teal roll-up unit doors on both sides

Units, corridors and doors

Partitioning built to your unit mix, from lockers to drive-up units, with wide corridors and roller-shutter or hinged doors.

Red fire pipework and electrical conduit along a ceiling

Fire, lighting and M&E

Fire detection and alarm, compartment walls, emergency and motion-sensor lighting, power and heating, all laid out to the fire strategy.

Loading dock bays with dock shelters on a pale warehouse wall

Access control, loading and reception

Gate and door access, CCTV containment, loading bays, trolley routes and a bright customer reception that helps sell units.

How it works

How a self storage project runs with us

01

Free feasibility

Upload the site plans or particulars. We review the planning history, structure, clear height, fire and access, then return a costed plan.

02

Layout and approvals

Unit mix and mezzanine levels drawn to your brief. We run the fire strategy, building regulations and any planning application.

03

Fixed sum, fixed date

One contract sum and an opening date written into the contract. Any change you request is costed in writing first.

04

Build in phases

Our own trades on site and a director checking progress every week. If you want early income, a finished floor can open first.

05

Handover and records

Tested, commissioned and signed off, then handed over complete, with the fire, electrical and access records your insurer reads.

Cover of the Craftex Guide to Warehouse Construction

The Craftex Guide to Warehouse Construction

For operators and investors weighing up a shed for storage. It shows how a warehouse project moves from site and budget to a signed-off building.

Our promises

Six promises, written into your contract

  1. One team, site to keys

    Feasibility, design, approvals and construction sit with one firm and one director, so your scheme never falls between two contracts.

    Portsoken House, an abandoned warehouse designed in-house and rebuilt by us.

  2. The sum you sign holds

    The contract sum is what you pay. Anything you change is priced and agreed with you before work starts.

    100% of our projects finished on budget.

  3. Your store keeps trading

    Customers keep reaching their units while we extend or refit: phased zones, quiet hours and safe walking routes.

    Banbury, built inside a live warehouse while operations carried on.

  4. Open on your launch date

    Most of the labour is ours, so no week is lost waiting on someone else's trades.

    A London headquarters data centre designed, built and commissioned in 10 weeks.

  5. £10M cover, every accreditation

    £10M public liability and £10M employers' liability, with professional indemnity on request.

    ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001, CHAS, SafeContractor and Constructionline.

  6. Zero snags, every certificate

    A finished store and a full file on day one: alarm, emergency lighting and electrical certificates, plus building control sign-off.

    Macmillan Cancer Care Centre, 2,100 m² managed end to end.

Example quotation for a warehouse-to-self-storage conversion, 3,000 m² with mezzanine

Already have a quote? Send it to us. We'll beat it.

Holding a quote for a conversion or a new store? Send it with the plans. A director checks it line by line and shows you what it leaves out.

Compare your quotes

Where self storage builds usually go wrong, and what we do instead

AreaThe usual riskWith Craftex
ResponsibilityMezzanine supplier, partition installer, electrician and fire engineer on separate orders, each blaming the next.One main contract covers the building, mezzanines, units and services, so any problem is ours to solve.
The final billA conversion priced before anyone tested the slab, the roof or the clear height, then extras once it is opened up.Floor loads, roof and structure surveyed at feasibility, so the contract sum reflects the building you actually bought.
The dateSteel and doors ordered late, building control queries unanswered, the launch campaign running for a store that is not ready.Long-lead steel and door systems ordered straight from the agreed programme, with our own trades following each other without gaps.
DisruptionAn existing store extended with dust in the corridors and customers shut out of their units.Works screened and zoned, noisy jobs moved out of hours, and customer access kept open throughout.
ComplianceFire strategy, mezzanine approval and alarm certificates left until the insurer asks for them.We run every approval and certificate needed to open, insure and trade: planning, building control, fire strategy, alarm, emergency lighting and electrical tests.
HandoverOpening day with snags on the list and the access system half commissioned.Doors, units and access control tested before the keys change hands, with nothing left outstanding.

Self storage build cost in the UK, 2026

Indicative costs per m² of floor area from Laxton's Building Price Book 2026, ex VAT. London sites usually run about 9% higher.

TypeWhat it covers£ per m²
Warehouse-to-storage conversionAn existing shed or industrial unit refurbished and fitted out for storage£500–1,000
New-build storage shellSteel frame, cladding, slab, doors and incoming mains£1,100–1,250
New build with lighting, power and welfareShell plus lighting, power, toilets and a basic reception or office£1,250–1,550
Mezzanine deckSteel structure and deck only, per m² of deck£76–190
Site feasibility and cost planPlanning, structure, height, fire and access checked, then costedNo charge

Excludes land, VAT, professional and planning fees, sprinkler tanks and abnormal ground. Unit mix, door specification and mezzanine area move the figure most. Schemes we take on range from £100,000 to over £10M. Mezzanine deck rates come from Western Industrial, October 2026.

Free cost calculator

What will your self storage facility cost?

Enter the floor area and pick a scope. You get an indicative range at once, from 2026 published prices.

Add
Your estimateEnter your spaceex VAT and fees Get your free cost plan

Indicative, ex VAT, fees and land. Excludes sprinkler tanks, abnormal ground and planning costs. Your fixed figure follows the free site feasibility.

Our team

  • in

Self storage construction: your questions

Do I need planning permission to convert a warehouse into self storage?

Often not, if the building already has a lawful storage use. Self storage falls in Use Class B8, so moving from one B8 use to another is usually not a change of use. Check old permissions first, because some councils tie a building to a single use by condition. A shop, gym or office moving to storage normally needs permission, and new doors or cladding may too. Our guide to how the Class E use class works covers the retail side.

How much does it cost to build a self storage facility in the UK?

Roughly £500–1,000 per m² to convert an existing warehouse, and £1,100–1,550 per m² for a new-build store, before VAT and fees. These are Laxton's 2026 national bands; expect around 9% more in London. Unit mix, doors, mezzanine area and sprinklers change the figure most. Send the site plans for a free cost plan.

Can our store stay open while you extend or refurbish it?

Yes. We split the building into zones, screen the working area and keep a protected route to every occupied unit. Drilling and deliveries happen outside your busiest hours, and access control stays live. At Banbury we built inside a working warehouse without stopping its operations.

What fire safety does a self storage building need?

A fire strategy written for that building, covering detection and alarm, compartments, escape routes, emergency lighting and fire-fighting access. Large compartments usually call for sprinklers, and the London Fire Brigade urges every self storage site to consider them. As operator you become the responsible person under the Fire Safety Order. We hand over the records you need for that role.

Is there still demand for self storage in the UK?

Yes, though it is now a maturing market. The Self Storage Association UK's 2026 report puts industry turnover at £1.3bn and average occupancy at 74.5%. Mature stores reach 79.6%, while revenue per sq ft has eased to £27.40. That makes build cost and opening date weigh more heavily in the appraisal.

Is it better to convert an existing building or build a new self storage facility?

Conversion is usually quicker and costs less per m², as the cost table shows. A tall shed can also take mezzanine levels inside its height. New build wins when no suitable building exists, or when roadside visibility and layout control matter more. Floor loads, roof condition and fire separation usually decide it.

How long does it take to build or convert a self storage facility?

We write the opening date into the contract instead of quoting an average, because size, planning and steel lead times vary so much. For scale, Drake's railway arch took us 8 weeks from bare arch to working warehouse. A new build adds planning, groundworks and frame. The free feasibility sets out a programme for your site.

What are the regulations for mezzanine floors in self storage?

Most mezzanines need Building Regulations approval. Building control checks the structure, fire resistance, escape stairs, guarding and travel distances to exits. In storage the deck often needs 30 or 60 minutes of fire resistance, depending on size and use. We design, submit and certify it with the rest of the building. Read more on warehouse mezzanine floor regulations.

What does the free site feasibility and cost plan include?

Send the site plans, the agent's particulars or just the address. We review the planning history and use class, the structure and slab, clear height for mezzanines, fire strategy, access and services. You receive a written summary of what the building can take and a cost plan, with no obligation.

Do you build outside London, and for operators with several sites?

Yes to both. We are based in London and work across the UK, with projects from Bethnal Green to Banbury and Manchester. For multi-site operators we repeat one specification, one programme template and one director on every store.

What our clients say

See all reviews on Google
  • Hired Craftex for our conversion project. We had to convert a 600m2 office into 8 apartments. Guys did an excellent job in terms of program efficiency and quality of the finishes which gave us a big upside to exit the project 2 months faster than other competitors’ timelines.

    Misha Levit

  • Great experience from start to finish. Communication was clear, the workmanship was excellent, and the whole project was managed professionally.

    Rhea Langford

  • I’d like to thank the team at Сraftex for the work they did on our office.
    It was really important for us to get the work done quickly, but without compromising on quality, as we regularly have clients and guests visiting and needed to move into the new office within a month.
    We spent around two weeks discussing and agreeing all the details before the work started. What I really appreciated was that everything we agreed beforehand was actually followed through during the job. The work was also completed on time.
    Thanks to the whole Сraftex team for a great job. I’d definitely use them again if we need any work done in the future.

    IURII PYLYPETS

  • We recently worked with Craftex and honestly couldn’t be happier with the results. From start to finish, the team was professional, reliable, and highly skilled. The quality of workmanship exceeded our expectations, and everything was completed on time and to a very high standard.
    Communication throughout the project was excellent, and they always went above and beyond to make sure we were satisfied. It’s rare to find a construction company that combines professionalism, attention to detail, and great customer service so well.
    Without a doubt, Craftex is one of the best construction companies we have ever worked with. Highly recommended to anyone looking for quality and trustworthy builders.

    Adam Miah

  • Craftex has completed a range of both small and large-scale projects on our commercial property with exceptional precision and quality. Dmitriy consistently delivers courteous, prompt service and has shown great flexibility in accommodating last-minute changes to plans and timelines. I highly recommend Craftex for their professionalism and outstanding workmanship.

    Pascal Hunt

  • Great company to work with as always. Super flexible at dealing with evolving requirements and fast deployment and execution.

    Akshay Khanna

  • Hired Craftex to do the full design and fit out of my gym in Chelsea. Super efficient and fast team. They gave the best price and a proper fast track program. We managed to open in less than 6 weeks with no headaches or surprises during construction. Quality was great, we had zero snags on completion. I’ve worked with a few companies before but these guys really impressed me from project management to how they treat the client. Top GGs.

    Александр Хоменко

  • I worked perfectly with Sviat and Joe, with their architect they came up with a very smart design for our office to fit more desks and optimise the space to its maximum capacity. They also did excellent value engineering on the MEP design proposed by others, allowing us to save around £50K. The quality and speed were outstanding we finished two weeks ahead of schedule. Highly recommend these guys.

    John Smith

  • Happy with the end result. Tight timeline but they pulled it off. The team worked late shifts and even weekends to help us open the doors on schedule. Site was always left tidy at the end of the day and no surprise charges either. Good communication throughout. Would definitely use Craftex again.

    Pawel Kamionka

  • Highly recommended!
    Craftex are the kind of fit-out contractors in London you can truly trust. From the very first meeting, they understood our vision and gave practical ideas to make the most of our space. They turned our old storage area into a clean, efficient, and well-organized warehouse. The team was professional, easy to work with, and clearly took pride in their work.

    Monika Kamionka

  • We brought in Craftex to refurb our London office and honestly, they made the whole thing way easier than we expected. They listened, suggested ideas we wouldn’t have thought of, and explained everything clearly. Not the cheapest quote we got, but the end result shows why, the place looks modern, clean, and our team actually enjoys being here now. Communication was spot-on too. No chasing and confusion, deadlines were hit. If you want people who genuinely care and don’t treat your project like “another job,” I’d recommend them.

    A Google User

  • Sviat and his team at Craftex were brilliant to work with on our office redesign. From the first meeting, they took the time to understand how we actually use the space rather than just pitching generic solutions. They came back with clever, practical ideas to maximise use of the space and get more employees and desks inside . Every step was handled professionally, and the process felt surprisingly smooth for a project of this size. They finished one week ahead of schedule, and the transformation is clear — our office feels brighter, more functional, and much more welcoming. I’d happily recommend Craftex to anyone who wants a reliable design team that also makes the journey enjoyable.

    Cucu Iulian

  • We recently worked with Sviat and the Craftex team on a complete warehouse refurbishment, and the results have been outstanding. From the very beginning, their team was professional, organized, and attentive to every detail. The project was completed on time and within budget, without disrupting our day-to-day operations.

    Simone Racaku

  • My experience with Craftex was excellent from beginning to end. They took the time to really listen to what I wanted and then offered practical suggestions that made the design even better. I always felt like they cared about creating a space that worked for me, not just one that looked nice on paper. The end result is an office that feels stylish, welcoming, and very functional for day-to-day work. The process itself was straightforward, well-managed, and never stressful. I’d definitely recommend Craftex if you’re looking for office design and build services in London — they made the whole journey a positive one.

    Ion Bounegru

  • I’m really pleased with my experience working with Craftex. As a commercial construction firm, they handled everything from start to finish without any unnecessary stress on my side. What impressed me was how they suggested practical ideas that improved the design while also keeping things realistic. The communication was always clear, so I never felt out of the loop. The project ran smoothly, deadlines were met, and the end result is exactly what I was hoping for — a space that feels both functional and modern. It’s not easy finding contractors who are this reliable, but Craftex definitely proved they can be trusted.

    Taron Papoyan

  • I had an amazing experience working with Sviat and the Craftex team on our office fit-out in London. They were always professional, responsive, and quick to offer the best advice whenever decisions needed to be made. I really appreciated how they balanced style with practicality — the office doesn’t just look fantastic, it works perfectly for our team. Everything was done with care and attention to detail, and the project never felt overwhelming because they managed it so well. Communication was clear from start to finish, and I always felt involved in the process. I would happily recommend Craftex to anyone looking for a trustworthy contractor.

    Artur Dvorak

  • Craftex carried out a warehouse fit-out for us, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. The space has been completely transformed into a highly organized and efficient environment that makes our daily operations much smoother.
    The team was professional but also very approachable — I always felt comfortable asking questions or giving feedback. They came up with smart, practical solutions that worked perfectly for our setup, and everything was explained clearly along the way.
    The best part was how they stuck to the agreed timeline, finishing on schedule without cutting corners. It’s rare to get both quality and reliability, but Craftex delivered both.

    Roma Shchukin

  • We’re extremely happy with Sviat and the Craftex team’s work. They suggested clever ideas, managed the project efficiently, and delivered a functional, modern space. The team was easy to communicate with and very professional throughout the process!

    Polina Lysenko

  • I can honestly say our office has been completely transformed thanks to Craftex. From the very first meeting, the team was approachable, professional, and full of creative ideas that really made sense for our business. They didn’t just focus on how the space would look but also how it would work for the team day-to-day. The new layout is efficient, modern, and welcoming, and you can tell they really thought about the details. The whole process was smooth and surprisingly stress-free. They kept me updated at every stage, which gave me confidence. I’m really happy with the results and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone.

    Mykyta Khadzhynov

  • The results from Craftex’s commercial refurbishment in London are fantastic. The team was friendly, clear in communication, and made sure the project stayed on track. The workspace now feels efficient, welcoming, and modern. Definitely a team you can trust!

    Alaa Betar

  • We hired Craftex for a commercial ground floor fit-out with 2 flats above. There were some minor co-ordination hiccups with third-party suppliers but the team kept it moving. Finish quality was strong. Kitchens and doors look great. I have already asked them for a quote on the next project.

    Ben Edell

  • These guys actually deliver. They handled our first industrial to residential conversion near Tower Bridge, turned an old warehouse into 4 modern flats. They stuck to the plan, kept the site clean and the timing was on point. No hidden extras, no drama, just a professional construction company in London that gets the job done.

    Богдан Главацкий

  • We recently hired Craftex for a commercial office fit-out project in Central London, and overall, we’re really happy with the result. There was a delay on our side with a custom glass partition supplier, but the Craftex team managed the construction schedule very professionally and kept everything on track. Their guys worked clean, respected our workspace and IT setup, and kept the site tidy throughout. If you're looking for a reliable office refurbishment company in London, I’d definitely recommend Craftex. Would use them again without hesitation.

    Ardian Beleshi

  • This was a full high-end renovation of my Victorian rental apartment in Westminster, just off Sloane Square and Belgravia. The scope included full fit-out: electrics, plumbing, a new bespoke kitchen, and a luxury bathroom refurbishment. Craftex took care of everything and made the process easy. They weren’t the cheapest, but you can tell they really know what they’re doing when it comes to prime London property renovations.
    The team was professional, organised, and genuinely seemed to care about getting everything right. I was especially impressed with the quality of the finish – the attention to detail really shows in every corner.
    I’m very happy with the results and would definitely recommend Craftex to anyone looking for reliable, high-quality renovation work in Central London.

    Наталия Цимбалюк

  • I was stressed about timing since we had bookings lined up, but they smashed it. Even worked Saturday to finish the floor. My clients love the look — the beauty salon fit-out turned out exactly how I wanted. Couldn’t have pulled it off without their help. Genuinely appreciate the way they communicated throughout the refurbishment. If you need reliable help with beauty salon design or fit-out, especially in a place like Chelsea — these are the guys.

    Rami Jusupova

  • We used Craftex for a shop-to-flat conversion in Chelsea — turning an old retail space into two rental units. Access wasn’t the easiest, but the guys handled it well, no drama. Quote was clear, no hidden extras, and they actually stuck to it, which is rare. Finish came out solid, exactly what we needed for rentals. Joe (PM) kept things ticking and communication was always on point. All in all, smooth job — would use them again for sure.👍

    Apartify Estates

  • Fuse Energy hired Craftex on the fit-out and installation of our engineering and research centre, which included electrical, heating, lighting, plumbing, and ventilation upgrades. They delivered everything to a high standard and were proactive throughout — even working weekends to help speed up the programme, despite not being contracted to. They managed last-minute changes very well, communication was clear and consistent, and the team was professional from start to finish. We’d happily recommend Craftex to anyone needing a reliable construction partner.

    Hainro Eybers

  • Holistic therapy space fit-out
    Super impressed. I had a very specific vision for the studio. calm tones, soft lighting, hidden storage etc. the craftex team just got it. build was done quicker than I expected and the guys were polite, tidy and actually listened. we had 2 snags on day one but they fixed it before the week was out. worth it for the peace of mind.

    Dariia Shvyryda

  • Made a full refurbishment and redesign of our Central London office. Fantastic work, quality service and reliable people. Can recommend it to everybody

    Nikita Nigai

  • Amazing experience with these guys. I trusted them my apartment in London and Business. They are always accurate, very professional, responsive and neat. They would always advice me right things for my best interest. I had luxury experience with them and I would definitely recommend Craftex to everyone.

    Motush Motushev

  • Could not be HAPPIER with Sviat and the Craftex team, they certainly showed me that they’re the number one office design company in London that we’ve had the pleasure of working with. They gave us a unique design just like we wanted, and we loved the first initial draft of the concept. Also have to give them props for Construction, I gave them a tight timeline as we needed to move our team in ASAP, so they pulled double shifts and I didn’t see a drop in quality. Will be to talking to the team when we move up to our next bigger office. Highly recommended A+++

    Mikhail Burdoev

  • Very professional company. Craftex did brilliant minimalistic design and completely refurbished my apartment to the highest quality.

    Vlad

  • I and my husband are very satisfied with Craftex's service and customer support. We bought a house in Hampstead and wanted to redesign and renovate it. On our initial free consultation with Sviat, we found out that we actually can do loft conversion and rear extension and add value to the property straight away.
    We worked with the Craftex design team to bring our vision to life and deliver planning approvals. At that time guys started stripping out to save time on the construction programme as we wanted to move in ASAP.
    We worked with very experienced project director Konstantin who was responsible for all aspects of project delivery from design to construction with a very good eye on details and customer care.
    We saved a lot of money by having professional advice from the start. Project management and quality at Craftex are at the highest level. Many thanks to Craftex Team.

    Lia Lavryk

  • ISO 9001
  • ISO 14001
  • ISO 45001
  • CHAS
  • Constructionline Gold
  • SafeContractor
  • TrustMark
  • FMB
  • NICEIC
  • NAPIT
  • MCS
  • CSCS
  • Considerate Constructors
  • RICS, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
  • RIBA, Royal Institute of British Architects
  • ARB, Architects Registration Board
  • Public & Employers' Liability £10M
  • Professional Indemnity £10M
  • ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certified

Send us the site plans

Plans, particulars or just an address will do. A director reviews the building, prices the scheme and calls you back, with no obligation.

Unit 5, 160 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9TR

info@craftex.co.uk

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