Building Self Storage for the Future: Technology, Scale and Institutionalisation – Global Perspectives in Local Markets

3.15pm – 3.45pm CEST, Wednesday 23 September 2026 ‐ 30 mins

Session

The Self Storage sector is entering a period of rapid transformation, driven by digitisation, evolving formats and new operators.
 
At the same time, the industry is attracting growing interest from institutional investors who are seeking scale. This demand is being fuelled by global capital flows, but also reflects a broader real estate environment characterised by higher return expectations and a more challenging macroeconomic backdrop - one that is impacting both consumers and the cost of doing business.
 
Against this backdrop, how can Self Storage position itself as a resilient and compelling asset class in a fast-changing world? 
 
Drawing on Savills’ database which maps granular supply data alongside ten key demand metrics across major European cities, we will provide a forward-looking view of the attractiveness of Self Storage across key urban markets.
 
With over 30 new stores in the pipeline in London alone, and several cities set to see supply increase by more than 20%, the focus turns to how effectively this new capacity can be absorbed, and the implications for investors, operators and customers.