FAQs

With successful trading at Old Jamaica Road since we opened over 25 years ago, we now want to build on this by expanding the store onto an adjacent site owned by Safestore. We submitted a planning application to the London Borough of Southwark in 2025, following significant engagement with the community about the plans.

The plans were refused at committee earlier this year. We have since made substantial changes to the overall massing of the building in direct response to feedback received. The wider principles of the scheme are consistent with what was previously submitted, which had support from the council.

We strongly believe our proposals are sustainable, would support the local economy and make a positive contribution to the local area.

No. Safestore’s operational hours for the site will be Monday to Saturday from 8am to 6pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

The store would be locked at night with a 24-hour CCTV system in place.

Our proposed Safestore facility would have a negligible impact on the local area in terms of traffic.

Self-storage is recognised in planning terms as a low-intensity use, which in part means it generates very little traffic, especially in comparison to other potential industrial uses for the site.

On-site car parking would be provided via eight parking bays as part of the facility which will create ample space to meet the demands of our customers, and means there would be no overspill parking on neighbouring roads.

As with the previous planning application, a Transport Assessment submitted as part of our planning application will present these findings in detail.

The internal areas behind the ‘picture windows’ proposed on Safestore’s facility will not be accessible by customers or staff members, other than for very occasional cleaning purposes.

These picture windows are a common architectural feature on self-storage facilities and would be located on the northern side of Safestore’s facility facing Queens Court, and the eastern side of the building facing the Pitman Building.

They are there to give passers-by an insight into what the inside of the self-storage facility looks like, and to improve the appearance of the building for site neighbours. These windows will not cause overlooking or privacy impacts for neighbouring buildings.

In response to feedback during consultation on the previous planning application, Safestore replaced a series of picture windows proposed on the northeastern side of the facility with a single picture window. This approach has been retained in the revised plans.

Our plans for the site on Old Jamaica Business Estate evolved following pre-application discussions with officers at the London Borough of Southwark and feedback from the community during our public consultation on the 2025 planning application.

The building has been carefully designed to reflect the nature of its location, which is on protected industrial land – and has historically been used for industrial purposes (with two industrial units currently occupying the site).

The overall height of the building matches (or is less than) the height of neighbouring buildings, including Queens Court, and the Pitman Building.

As part of the revised plans, the gap between the proposed building and neighbouring property at their closest points would be increased by a further 3.5 metres.

At street level, proposed material for the facility is brick, which is consistent with the nearby railway arches. As part of the revised plans, metal is used more sparingly on the façade of the upper part of the building.

Our initial and revised applications to Southwark Council include daylight and sunlight reports that have assessed our plans in line with the criteria set out in BRE Guidelines, which is the industry standard for daylight and sunlight.

The top of the building has been ‘stepped back’, to help reduce any impact on daylight and sunlight. In response to feedback during consultation on the 2025 planning application, Safestore increased this step back by a further three metres at the top of the building on the northeastern edge closest to Queens Court.

Safestore’s facility would not have a significant impact on the local area in terms of noise quality or air pollution.

The Noise Impact Assessment that has been submitted as part of our application suggests that, if approved, our facility is expected to meet the guidelines set out by the World Health Organisation (WHO), in addition to local and national planning policy.

Our Air Quality Assessment also indicates that Safestore’s proposals would meet relevant UK Air Quality Standards and all other relevant local and national policy.

Safestore is committed to providing affordable workspaces for hire to local businesses at 20% discount, helping to address the current lack of similar space across the borough of Southwark.

In addition to this, our latest research shows that a new Safestore facility brings many other considerable economic benefits to the local economy. Each of our stores creates up to 297 direct and indirect full-time equivalent jobs, and generates a combined local economic benefit of up to £6.9 million per year.

Approximately 40% of Safestore’s storage space is occupied by businesses – providing affordable and highly flexible spaces that are valuable for smaller businesses and SMEs, including those along the Bermondsey Beer Mile, in addition to national corporations, local government, and charities.

Our facilities are also used by private individuals from all walks of life, who use self-storage for various reasons, including during big life events such as moving home or starting a family.

Safestore’s socio-economic impact report, published in March 2025, is available to download on this page.