Business storage in Newcastle area for trades and contractors
Posted 04 Dec 2025
If you run a trades or contracting business in the Newcastle area, you’ll know that space is never quite as simple as it sounds. Vans end up overloaded with tools, your home garage slowly turns into a stockroom, and yards or lock-ups around the city get more expensive every year.
That’s where flexible business storage in the Newcastle area can make a real difference – especially when it’s designed with tradespeople in mind.
At U Hold the Key, we provide secure, 24/7 container self storage across the North East, including sites in Newcastle, Gateshead, South Shields and Sunderland – all ideal for busy trades and contractors who need safe, easy access to tools, plant and materials.
Whether you’re a self-employed joiner in Heaton, a plumbing and heating firm working across North Tyneside, or a multi-trade contractor covering Tyne and Wear, you’ll probably recognise some of these challenges:
Unfortunately, work vans are a common target for theft. Keeping expensive tools, plant and materials in vehicles outside homes or on the street creates unnecessary risk – and a single break-in can cost thousands in lost kit and downtime.
A secure storage unit gives you a lockable, CCTV-monitored base where you can store tools and materials away from your vans overnight.
It doesn’t take long for materials to stack up – a couple of kitchens on order, a bathroom suite, some radiators, a pallet of tiles, plus all your regular stock.
Instead of overflowing garages, sheds or cramped yards, a container store acts as an extra lock-up that grows with your business.
Jobs don’t always keep to office hours. You might need to grab materials at 5am before heading to site, or drop off tools at 9pm after a long shift.
Because our sites offer 24/7 access, 365 days a year, you can come and go when it suits your working day – not someone else’s.
If you’re juggling several projects, it helps to keep each one organised. A storage unit can be set up with job-by-job racking and labelled areas, so your team can quickly pick up what they need without hunting through piles of gear.
Our storage is simple: you rent a secure shipping container on one of our fenced, gated sites, and you hold the key.
In short, you get your own secure lock-up without the hassle and cost of taking on a full yard or industrial unit.
Because your work takes you all over Tyne and Wear, we’ve positioned our sites where trades actually need them – close to key roads, industrial estates and trade parks.
Newcastle – Benfield Business Park (Benfield Road)
Our Newcastle self storage site is on Benfield Business Park, just off the Coast Road (A1058) between Newcastle city centre and Whitley Bay.
This site works brilliantly for trades and contractors who want a secure central base close to Newcastle city centre without wrestling with city-centre traffic or parking.
Gateshead – Derwenthaugh Industrial Estate (near Metrocentre)
South of the river, our Gateshead Metro Centre site is tucked behind Derwenthaugh Industrial Estate, with easy access to the A1 and Metrocentre.
If your team covers both sides of the Tyne, many contractors choose a unit here as a shared hub their vans can call into before and after shifts.
South Shields – Western Approach Trade Park (Wilson Street)
Our South Shields storage facility is in Western Approach Trade Park on Wilson Street, just behind Toolstation and Tile Giant – deliberately chosen with trades in mind.
If your jobs are mainly coastal or you work a lot around South Tyneside, this is an excellent alternative to a traditional yard.
Sunderland – Crown Road, Low Southwick
On the Sunderland side, our site is on Crown Road in Low Southwick (SR5 2BS), just off Wessington Way (A1231) and under the Queen Alexandra Bridge.
Together, these sites give trades and contractors flexible business storage options across the Newcastle area, so you can pick the location – or locations – that best match your patch.
Within our usual terms and conditions (for example, no flammable or explosive materials, hazardous waste, illegal items or livestock), you can store almost anything associated with your work.
Typical items include:
If you’re unsure about a particular item, our team can advise whether it’s suitable for storage and how best to store it safely.
Every trade runs slightly differently, but here are some common ways contractors use U Hold the Key:
Mobile plumbing & heating firm
A growing heating business with three vans uses a Large 20ft container at our Newcastle site as a mini-warehouse for boilers, radiators and general stock. Engineers collect what they need for the day first thing, without disturbing neighbours or having everything cluttering their home garages.
Joiners and kitchen fitters
A small team of joiners stores full kitchen orders, doors and worktops in a Standard or Large container, with racking to keep components organised by job. When they’re ready to install, everything is in one place, protected from the weather.
Builders & multi-trade contractors
Contractors working on several sites at once often:
Some larger firms even use multiple units at different sites – for example, one in Newcastle and another in Gateshead – to cut travel time across the region.
Landscaping & grounds maintenance
Landscapers often prefer a site with easy access for trailers and small trucks. With drive-up storage and room for vehicles, our Gateshead, South Shields and Sunderland locations work well as secure bases for seasonal kit.
Across our North East network, we offer a range of container sizes – typically from compact 6ft stores right up to 40ft mega units.
As a rough guide:
If you’re not sure, our team can talk you through what you’re storing and recommend a size – it’s easy to size up or down later if your needs change.
Once you’ve got your unit, a bit of planning will help you get the most from it:
Can I run my business from the unit?
Our containers are designed for storage only. You’re welcome to load and unload tools, materials and stock, but activities such as running a workshop, office or regular on-site trading aren’t permitted under our terms and conditions.
Can my team share access?
Yes. We supply a padlock with your unit and can arrange additional keys if required, and your key fob controls access through the electronic gates. You can then decide who has keys and how you manage internal access within your business.
Is storage suitable for my van or other vehicles?
For many vehicles, yes. A Large 20ft container is often suitable for car storage and some smaller vans, depending on their size and ground clearance. It’s similar to having a secure single garage, with extra space left over for tools and stock. We’ll always suggest checking measurements for your specific vehicle.
How long can I store for?
The minimum hire period is one week, and there’s no maximum. Many trades use their units long term as a permanent base, while others store seasonally or just between projects. You can cancel at any time; once your container is emptied and the key returned, we’ll refund any unused full periods in line with our terms.
How do I book business storage in the Newcastle area?
You can check live prices and availability and book online using our booking tool on the website, or give our friendly team a call if you’d prefer to talk it through.
If you’re a trade or contracting business looking for business storage in the Newcastle area, U Hold the Key gives you:
📞 Call us on 0800 389 43 19 or use our online booking tool to reserve your unit at Newcastle, Gateshead, South Shields or Sunderland today.
Give your business the space it needs – and keep your tools, stock and equipment exactly where they should be: safe, organised and ready for the next job.