London's New Frontier: Tech-Driven Storage Lands in Bermondsey

LONDON, UK – November 17, 2025 – The burgeoning landscape of urban logistics and real estate innovation has a new entrant, as Pocket Storage, a U.K.-based, vertically integrated owner and operator of self-storage properties, officially unveiled its flagship facility, 'Biscuit Factory,' in Bermondsey, London. This move, backed by global real estate investment powerhouse Forum Partners, marks a significant step in reimagining how densely populated urban centers address their ever-growing need for space.

Located at 100 Drummond Road, the Bermondsey site is not merely another storage unit; it represents a strategic fusion of cutting-edge technology and a nuanced understanding of urban market dynamics. With 134 units spanning 10,000 square feet of net rental area across two floors, Pocket Storage aims to disrupt the traditional self-storage model, offering a fully automated, digitally-enabled experience designed for the modern city dweller.

The Tech-Enabled Advantage: Automation Meets Urban Necessity

Pocket Storage's model is built on a foundation of advanced technology, a critical differentiator in a sector increasingly embracing digital solutions. The facility boasts digital access controls, automated leasing processes, and sophisticated space optimization, all aimed at providing a seamless and secure customer journey. This tech-first approach is central to the company's strategy.

"Our fully automated model allows us to price rents below market average while ensuring a secure, convenient experience for customers," stated Max Wilson, co-founder and CEO of Pocket Storage. "By providing a modern storage solution at a competitive price point, we believe we will be able to capture significant market share in an underserviced market."

The broader self-storage industry is witnessing a rapid acceleration in technology adoption. Reports indicate that by 2025, 68% of self-storage businesses are actively utilizing AI, a substantial increase from previous years. However, consumer comfort with fully automated facilities, while growing, still has room for expansion. Pocket Storage addresses this by combining its proprietary booking and site access software with 24-hour human support via phone, aiming to alleviate any potential hesitancy and provide a best-of-both-worlds scenario for its clientele.

Solving London's Space Crunch: A Strategic Urban Infill

London, like many global metropolises, grapples with acute space constraints, particularly for its residents living in flats and apartments. Bermondsey exemplifies this challenge; within a 15-minute drive, 80% of residents live in such accommodations, yet the area is served by only two traditional self-storage facilities. This glaring gap presents a substantial opportunity for Pocket Storage's innovative model.

The UK self-storage sector itself is robust and expanding, with annual revenue surpassing £1.2 billion in 2024 and total floorspace reaching 64.3 million square feet in 2025. London consistently records some of the highest rental rates in the industry, underscoring the demand. Pocket Storage's strategy involves repurposing underutilized urban spaces, such as car parks or vacant retail units, to create centrally located facilities. This not only addresses the scarcity of suitable land but also mitigates high staffing costs, allowing for more competitive pricing.

While established players like Safestore and Access Self Storage maintain a strong presence, and tech-forward competitors such as Storebox also operate in London, Pocket Storage's specific focus on combining hyper-local urban infill with advanced automation carves out a distinct niche. This approach is designed to cater directly to the highly mobile and densely populated urban demographic.

Forum Partners' Strategic Bet on the New Economy

The launch of Pocket Storage is not merely a story of a new business; it's also a testament to the strategic vision of its financial backer, Forum Partners. As a global investment manager focused on real assets and best-in-class real estate companies, Forum Partners has deployed approximately $7.7 billion of capital across 24 countries since its inception in 2002. Their investment in Pocket Storage aligns perfectly with their philosophy of identifying sectors with high demand, stable income, and growth potential.

Forum Partners employs a top-down investment approach, meticulously evaluating macroeconomic trends and identifying operating partners with durable competitive advantages. Self-storage is explicitly listed as one of their target sectors, reflecting a broader conviction in its resilience and growth trajectory. Their backing provides Pocket Storage with the capital and strategic guidance to scale rapidly, not just within the UK but potentially across other space-constrained global markets. The partnership underscores a belief in the long-term value creation possible from modernizing and optimizing traditionally capital-intensive real estate sectors through technology and strategic urban deployment.

The Path Ahead: Global Ambitions from a London Launchpad

The Biscuit Factory in Bermondsey is just the beginning. Pocket Storage has ambitious plans to roll out an additional 72,500 square feet across four centrally located London facilities in the coming months. Beyond the UK, the company, leveraging Forum Partners' extensive global real estate platform, intends to expand into targeted urban markets worldwide. Key cities like New York City, Paris, and Tokyo are on the radar, signaling a vision to replicate its differentiated, automated model in other space-constrained city centers.

This expansion strategy highlights the scalability of Pocket Storage's approach and its potential to become a significant player in the evolving urban real estate and logistics landscape. By addressing the fundamental need for convenient, accessible, and affordable storage in dense urban environments through technological innovation and strategic real estate repositioning, Pocket Storage is poised to carve out a substantial niche in the new economy.