NW England, Commercial property - dodgy security firms
NW England, Commercial property - dodgy security firms
Author
Discussion

OliSmith175

Original Poster:

961 posts

196 months

Friday 10th December 2021
quotequote all
We (my wife and I) are in the process of looking to purchase a small commercial unit with some yard space in the north west of England through our SIPP to start a new business. The SIPP will be leasing the property to our trading company (not currently trading, as due to the nature of the business we need the site and associated licences/permits before we can begin trading)

We live in Wigan but we've got quite a wide search radius of about 20-30 miles, simply because there's not a lot available that meets our needs and we've resigned to the fact that to get the ideal site we may need a bit of a commute. The option is always available to move closer to the site once the business is going. But a lot of the sites that look eligible are coming up around the Blackburn or Liverpool area.

Maybe I've been watching too much TV/films, but one thing that has been nagging in the back of my mind is essentially protection rackets or dodgy security firms. There's little up to date information after searching the web, but I would assume due to the nature of what we're talking about, not many people who are being exploited would shout about it on the web.

Two people that I know mentioned it in the sort of 'What about protection rackets!' or 'you need to watch out for that!' kind of way, but both of those people are people who have been known to exaggerate/stretch the truth a little and I would typically take what they say with a pinch of salt anyway.

So put simply, does anyone know if this still exists on a large scale or better still have any experience of it happening? Are certain areas more rife for it? One of the people mentioned above did seem to think that Liverpool is/was rife for it. If we set up business, are we likely to have a few big 'security' blokes turn up insisting that they run the local security and we may be liable to 'accidents' and 'vandalism' if we don't pay their exorbitant fees? I'm sure it still goes on to some degree, but not sure how widespread of a problem it is.

Thanks in advance.

Wacky Racer

39,933 posts

263 months

Friday 10th December 2021
quotequote all
I wouldn't worry about it, you've been watching too much TV. smile

Maybe in inner city parts of Liverpool, Manchester or Salford, but I'm pretty sure Wigan, Blackburn, Bolton, Bury etc would be OK.

Wacky Racer

39,933 posts

263 months

Friday 10th December 2021
quotequote all
Have a look at Rossendale, plenty of industrial units, great motorway access and beautiful scenery if you fancy moving over that way.

Killieboy

15 posts

74 months

Friday 10th December 2021
quotequote all
Wacky Racer said:
Have a look at Rossendale, plenty of industrial units, great motorway access and beautiful scenery if you fancy moving over that way.
I live in Rossendale and agree it's a low stress business environment, come and join uswavey

Countdown

44,957 posts

212 months

Friday 10th December 2021
quotequote all
I'd stay away from anywhere east of Waterfoot though - dodgy AF wink

Carrs Industrial estate on the A56 Haslingden bypass probably ideal if you DO decide to come to Rossendale......

ToastMan76

530 posts

89 months

Monday 13th December 2021
quotequote all
OliSmith175 said:
We (my wife and I) are in the process of looking to purchase a small commercial unit with some yard space in the north west of England through our SIPP to start a new business. The SIPP will be leasing the property to our trading company (not currently trading, as due to the nature of the business we need the site and associated licences/permits before we can begin trading)

We live in Wigan but we've got quite a wide search radius of about 20-30 miles, simply because there's not a lot available that meets our needs and we've resigned to the fact that to get the ideal site we may need a bit of a commute. The option is always available to move closer to the site once the business is going. But a lot of the sites that look eligible are coming up around the Blackburn or Liverpool area.

Maybe I've been watching too much TV/films, but one thing that has been nagging in the back of my mind is essentially protection rackets or dodgy security firms. There's little up to date information after searching the web, but I would assume due to the nature of what we're talking about, not many people who are being exploited would shout about it on the web.

Two people that I know mentioned it in the sort of 'What about protection rackets!' or 'you need to watch out for that!' kind of way, but both of those people are people who have been known to exaggerate/stretch the truth a little and I would typically take what they say with a pinch of salt anyway.

So put simply, does anyone know if this still exists on a large scale or better still have any experience of it happening? Are certain areas more rife for it? One of the people mentioned above did seem to think that Liverpool is/was rife for it. If we set up business, are we likely to have a few big 'security' blokes turn up insisting that they run the local security and we may be liable to 'accidents' and 'vandalism' if we don't pay their exorbitant fees? I'm sure it still goes on to some degree, but not sure how widespread of a problem it is.

Thanks in advance.
Is there nothing around the Swan Lane area of Wigan that fits your needs?

Gilmore

315 posts

150 months

Monday 13th December 2021
quotequote all
Chorley any good?

Doubt you’d find much of that sort of thing here tbh.

Moorland Gate Business Park is worth a look if they have anything suitable. Have experience on there and security was always good etc.

OliSmith175

Original Poster:

961 posts

196 months

Tuesday 14th December 2021
quotequote all
ToastMan76 said:
Is there nothing around the Swan Lane area of Wigan that fits your needs?
There’s very little suitable commercial property available to buy generally within a 20 mile radius that is within budget. I regularly check rightmove and zoopla commercial listings.

VEX

5,257 posts

262 months

Thursday 16th December 2021
quotequote all
Depending on the size you need i would be onto commercial agents weekly, they need to know you are keen and real, not fishing on the interweb.

I suspect that like good housing, good stuff will sell well before it gets a sniff of anything digital.


northwest monkey

6,370 posts

205 months

Friday 17th December 2021
quotequote all
Countdown said:
I'd stay away from anywhere east of Waterfoot though - dodgy AF wink

Carrs Industrial estate on the A56 Haslingden bypass probably ideal if you DO decide to come to Rossendale......
Rough as toast in Haslingden!

(thumbup from Bacup)

hepy

1,348 posts

156 months

Saturday 18th December 2021
quotequote all
northwest monkey said:
Countdown said:
I'd stay away from anywhere east of Waterfoot though - dodgy AF wink

Carrs Industrial estate on the A56 Haslingden bypass probably ideal if you DO decide to come to Rossendale......
Rough as toast in Haslingden!

(thumbup from Bacup)
Valley folk!

If you buy a unit in Bacup, watch out for the Coconutters, they're Bacup's local firm!!

Wacky Racer

39,933 posts

263 months

Saturday 18th December 2021
quotequote all
hepy said:
northwest monkey said:
Countdown said:
I'd stay away from anywhere east of Waterfoot though - dodgy AF wink

Carrs Industrial estate on the A56 Haslingden bypass probably ideal if you DO decide to come to Rossendale......
Rough as toast in Haslingden!

(thumbup from Bacup)
Valley folk!

If you buy a unit in Bacup, watch out for the Coconutters, they're Bacup's local firm!!
You don't mess with them.



Countdown

44,957 posts

212 months

Sunday 19th December 2021
quotequote all
They look like a bunch of Morris Dancers who misunderstood the HR memo about diversity targets biggrin