Every town has its problem site. In Perth, it’s the former ABP meat-processing plant on Strathtay Road—a rotting carcass of a building, dangerous, derelict, and dragging down the area. Visible from the A85, it’s the first thing visitors see when they come in from the west. Not exactly a welcome mat.
The building has been left unattended for too long and has collapsed roof sections, exposing asbestos. Suspect RAAC panels that could fail without warning—infested with rats and gulls. It has even become a magnet for fly-tipping and vandalism. That’s not “character”, it’s a health hazard.
If a structure is past saving, you take it down and replace it with something better. But “better” doesn’t mean busier. It means cleaner. Safer. Lower impact. That’s the philosophy driving our proposal for Strathtay Road.
A Proven Model New to Scotland
Across Europe, especially in Germany and the Netherlands, modern modular self-storage parks have been quietly thriving since 2015. They’re known for clean layouts, secure app-based access, architectural consistency, and low-intensity operation.
They’re not container stacks in a yard. They’re purpose-built, visually coherent facilities that fit in urban and edge-of-town locations without upsetting the neighbours. That’s the model we’re bringing to Perth, and it will be the first of its kind in Scotland.
Why This Fits Where Others Failed
Over the years, proposals for this site have included retail units, light industrial use, and even a drive-through. None got the green light. Too much traffic. Too much disruption. Wrong for a site with homes nearby.
Self-storage is different. It’s exceptionally low-impact. Most domestic customers visit once a month or less, usually outside peak hours. No delivery queues. No late-night noise. No glare from floodlights, our downward-facing LEDs stay dark unless someone’s on site. It’s a use designed to co-exist.
The Plan
We’ll clear the hazard and replace it with 116 Strongholds® modular units, built in phases to match demand. Each unit is insulated with NASA-developed aerogel, ensuring stable interior conditions without the need for heating or ventilation. Digital locks mean access is controlled and logged through a smartphone app, eliminating the need for keys to lose and codes to share.
The site will be monitored 24/7 with high-definition CCTV, enclosed by secure automated gates. The layout will be clean, uniform, and landscaped to present a professional frontage to Strathtay Road. The muted Agate and Anthracite greys, paired with crisp Traffic Blue roller doors, will feel calm and deliberate, not improvised.
Why It Matters
It removes an eyesore. We’re taking down a building in advanced structural failure, complete with hazardous materials, and replacing it with a modern facility that takes care of itself.
It enhances the gateway. Strathtay Road will stop looking like an afterthought and start looking like part of a well-managed city.
It supports local needs. From home moves to stock storage for small businesses, it’s practical infrastructure that the community can use.
It’s sustainable. Brownfield reuse avoids the environmental costs associated with building on undeveloped land, and the modular format minimises waste and disruption.
It’s safer. Replacing a magnet for antisocial behaviour with a secure, managed site reduces risk for everyone.
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t about squeezing every inch of commercial gain from the land. It’s about putting the proper use in the right place. Low-impact, high-utility developments like this prove you can regenerate without overloading local infrastructure or alienating neighbours.
That’s the broader philosophy I’ve applied at Mill Road in Linlithgow, and it’s the same logic here in Perth. Get the basics right. Treat the site as a long-term asset. Build something that works for both the operator and the community.
The first step is demolition. Then we’ll deliver a facility that’s quiet, clean, and genuinely useful.
📍 Learn more or share your views at Perth Storage Units.
