Investor appetite for outdoor and open-yard logistics sites has surged, fuelled by constrained warehouse supply, rising e-commerce volumes, and the demand for truck, container and EV fleet storage.
Properly regularised and engineered sites are commanding a premium, but due diligence on title, planning, drainage, and contamination is key for investors and landlords. We have been acting on numerous investments and lettings of these sites in recent months, and some of the key themes arising:
- Planning & permitted use constraints — LPAs often treat open storage as an intensification of use, requiring express consent.
- Environmental and surface liabilities — impermeable surfacing, drainage, run-off and contamination risk can create unexpected capital expenditure.
- Lease management — open-yard leases must address stacking limits, surface damage, drainage, contamination indemnities, and reinstatement standards.
- Insurance & security — outdoor exposure and increased vehicle turnover heighten risk profiles.
