Shipping Containers for Schools
January 6, 2026
Storage Containers for Rent Across the South West
Space gets tight fast
Maybe your stock's spilling out the doors, or you've got building materials that need protecting. Perhaps you're between offices and can't leave equipment sitting outside. Whatever the reason, finding secure extra space shouldn't eat up weeks of planning or drain your budget.
That's where storage containers for rent make sense. At Alan Coward & Son, we've been sorting storage headaches since 1972. Five decades of family ownership means we know what works and what doesn't.
Rent a storage container quickly, easily, and affordably with Alan Coward & Son
What Makes Our Container Rental Different
Built around your schedule, not ours
Need it next Tuesday? Done. Want to end the rental in three months? No problem. Our 20ft & 40ft containers are ready when you are. No binding contracts force you into year-long commitments. Give us seven days' notice and you're out. That's the kind of flexibility bigger outfits won't touch.
Delivery that actually works
Bristol streets aren't built for massive trucks. Narrow lanes in Clifton, awkward access in Redfield, cramped building sites across Southmead, we've navigated them all. Our HIAB crane service puts containers exactly where you need them, even when space looks impossible.
Eighty-five years of combined driver experience means our delivery team have seen worse than your tricky driveway. ALLMI-trained and equipped to handle loads up to six tonnes, our team treats tight spaces like Tuesday morning routine.
Real Storage for Real Businesses
The market speaks
The UK's storage container market hit £1.2 billion in 2024, with container-based sites now making up 39% of all UK storage locations. That growth didn't happen by accident. UK businesses have discovered what warehouses cost versus what containers deliver.
Construction Sites
Tools disappear. Materials get ruined by rain. Theft costs UK construction firms millions every year. Put your kit in a steel container and those problems shrink. Lock it at night, open it at dawn. Everything stays dry, organized, and exactly where you left it. Contractors across Bath, South Gloucestershire, and North Somerset already know this. That's why they keep coming back.
Retail and Seasonal Storage
Holiday stock overwhelms back rooms. Sales displays need somewhere to live between promotions. One retailer we work with stores Christmas inventory from February onwards, then swaps it for Easter stock when March rolls around.
Storage containers let you scale up when demand surges and scale back when it drops. Nearly a quarter of storage users now run their entire business from their unit. No rent hikes, no lease negotiations, just space that works for you.
Trade and Service Companies
Plumbers, electricians, landscapers; if you've got a van full of equipment, you've felt the squeeze. Extra gear won't fit. Seasonal tools clutter the garage. Client materials need temporary holding.
A 20ft container gives you 160 square feet of secure storage. That's room for ladders, power tools, bulk materials, and the stuff that won't sell until summer. Park right outside your unit and load directly from your van.
of business users run their entire business from their storage unit
of tool thefts occurred on site according to the Federation of Master Builders
Figures from the 2025 Annual Report from the self-storage association
Serving Bristol and Beyond Since 1972
We're not a franchise. We're not answering to shareholders in another country. Alan Coward & Son remains family-owned after half a century because we do the work right.
Avonmouth location puts us at Bristol's transport hub. We know every route, every junction, every street that causes delivery trouble. That knowledge saves you time and stops containers ending up stuck three blocks from where they belong.
"We always go back to Alan Coward & Son for a reason: they're reliable, efficient and help keep our projects running on track. They're always prompt, professional and dependable, making sure our site equipment gets where it needs to be. We would definitely recommend them to anyone who needs a trustworthy transport service."
Ieuan James, Director, Emery Brothers Ltd
Storage Containers for Rent FAQ
Why Rent Instead of Buy?
Buying makes sense if you'll use the container for years. Renting works better for projects with shorter timelines. Here's the breakdown:
Getting a storage container for rent skips the big upfront expense. You're not tied to long-term ownership when the job finishes. No depreciation eats your asset value. When the project ends, we collect the container and you're done.
Maintenance, repairs, and transport costs don't land on your desk. We handle those. If something breaks, that's our problem to fix. Your budget stays predictable instead of getting hit with surprise repair bills.
Business needs change. Maybe you take on a six-month contract requiring extra storage. Maybe retail seasonal peaks demand overflow space twice yearly. Renting lets you match storage capacity to actual demand instead of guessing what you'll need three years from now.
