Wanted: Workshop space for rent in London (W, SW NW)?

Wanted: Workshop space for rent in London (W, SW NW)?

Author
Discussion

ThomasM88

Original Poster:

12 posts

40 months

Friday 15th January 2021
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Hi all - I've been actively trying to find a workshop space to rent/lease in the outer London area - is anyone aware of someone with available space - perhaps a light industrial warehouse, garage space, or an existing mechanic/auto shop that has spare space available?

I'll be primarily using this space for light restoration of my car/truck. Access to tools/lift would be a bonus, but I can arrange all my own tools. Ideally this is a space I could lease on an annual basis.

Again, ideal (for me at least) is something in the West, Southwest, Northwest outer areas of the city.

Appreciate any help or references!

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On any entirely separate, but related, note - IF this is something that's not readily available and there is broader interest in an space like this - I wonder if there are enough people that could justify combining forces and leasing a space? Is this a gap in the market that we could address (at least for ourselves)? I think that if 8-10 people could come together and combine finances - we could establish a really great space and finally have a place to go in the city to work on (and store) our vehicles.

Thanks!

mareksr

5 posts

50 months

Saturday 23rd January 2021
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Hi there,

I've been chasing the same sort of space as you - I have 2 classics with friends in Woking and two stored in Cornwall. I would like to have them all together so I can maintain the two MGs (MGA, MG TF 2003) and complete the restoration of my Morris Minor and do something with the 1959 Lotus 7 I have in bits. I have no commercial aims, just hobby engineering and attending car shows etc

I am a relatively experienced amateur restorer and a retired engineer and would much prefer to share space with a similar other or others.

I am based in SW London but have been unable to find suitable premises within say a 45 min drive. Have been looking westwards mainly. Barns on farms sound ideal or small garages which are uneconomic. Really hard to find. Can we put our heads together?

This should be a good time to find something but I have been unable to do so thus far. Bigger might be easier. Separate storage and workshop might work if in the same area perhaps?

Rgds

Mark (ms282@exeter.ac.uk 07850103992)

NMNeil

5,860 posts

51 months

Saturday 23rd January 2021
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Good old railway arch perhaps
https://www.thearchco.com/

mareksr

5 posts

50 months

Saturday 23rd January 2021
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Arches look reasonable outside London but are priced differently in the London area.
High rental plus irrecoverable VAT and then the rates on top make these less suitable for non commercial use at first sight. I think these arches are now owned by property companies in London, seeking high turnover customers.

Maybe there are some exceptions?

Mark

ThomasM88

Original Poster:

12 posts

40 months

Saturday 23rd January 2021
quotequote all
Hi guys, great to see your replies.

Would be great to put our heads together - I've been researching pretty hard, and I've found a few smaller options and a few medium sized options. I'm going to check them out in person over the next few weeks and see how they seem. I can report here and we can keep this going - maybe anyone interested could join a WhatsApp group?

The larger units I think would require more people (obv) and I'd guess maybe 8-10 would be needed, at somewhere near the 7500/yr mark.

I've had a look at the Arches, and they aren't too large. I'm going to check out a few other units this next week as well.

@mareksr I'm due to look at something soon down your way - I'm in the Holland Park area and SW is ideal for me as well. Let me know if you want to take offline and chat about it?

Others - if anyone is interested, please post your interest here and WhatsApp number - I can then get a group of those of us that are seriously interested and see what we can do!

Cheers

Edited by ThomasM88 on Saturday 23 January 22:12

austina35

346 posts

53 months

Sunday 31st January 2021
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I could be interested. I'm based near chessington and would need power though.

mareksr

5 posts

50 months

Thursday 11th February 2021
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Greetings,

I'm based in SW London but my 2 classic cars are in Woking and I have two more in storage in Cornwall. I'd like to find a shared workshop and storage space so I can work on and attend classic car shows when we all surface.

My Woking space may or may not be retained and defines a sort of radius which I might all look for shared space - and it is very difficult to do this as one individual and there can be many advantages to join forces with others in a similar situation.

Do email me so we are in contact (I have also reached out to Thomas Moeller who is also on this forum). I am trying to avoid commercial space because it is very expensive and I'd rather spend money on the restoration work I enjoy rather than the venue but let's see if we can find something suitable in our region. What would serve your needs?

Rgds

Mark Scibor-Rylski
ms282@exeter.ac.uk
078501 03992

SW6 1EH

ThomasM88

Original Poster:

12 posts

40 months

Thursday 11th February 2021
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Thanks Mark - I'm onboard and have been actively looking. I'll send you an email and we can pick that convo up. I also have another friend who is interested, so we may have us 3 to begin with - probably need a few others....