About the client
Universal Container Services is one of the UK’s leading independent suppliers of shipping containers. Family-run for over 40 years, and a Gorvins client for almost 10 years, the business has grown from a small yard in Irlam into a national player in the container supply and conversion sector.
What our client needed
Universal identified a rare opportunity to secure a strategic seven acre plus site along the Manchester Ship Canal. This was the missing piece in their long-term growth strategy, creating the UK’s largest independently owned container company with a prime waterfront location, its own berth and the space to expand across multiple business lines.
The latest £4.5 million acquisition of the remaining half of the site came with a tight deadline imposed by the seller of the property. Universal needed a legal partner who could work at speed while handling the complexities of the deal.
How Gorvins Solicitors helped
Gorvins Solicitors worked closely with Universal’s Managing Director, George Woolley, to secure the land purchase within the required timeframe.
Legal work on the recent purchase commenced at the end of June 2025 and was completed within 5 weeks on 1st August 2025. The transaction involved complex details as to VAT, service media connections and various title issues affecting the legal title to the site which were required to be resolved, together with the usual issues arising from the site’s proximity to the Manchester Ship canal.
This quick, proactive and detail-focused approach, paired with Gorvins ability to work closely with George Wooley at Universal, gave Universal the confidence that the transaction would complete smoothly despite the time pressure.
The outcome
The seven-acre site will deliver:
- Dozens of new jobs and apprenticeships for local people
- The UK’s largest container showroom, based in Manchester
- A state-of-the-art workshop and parts hub to support custom builds
- Up to 600 new self-storage units, expanding the company’s existing offer.
George Woolley, Managing Director of Universal Container Services, said:
“To secure the land deal for my company in the limited time I was given by the seller, I knew I could rely on Gorvins Solicitors to get this deal over the line. I would like to say a big thankyou to Colin Mellor and rest of the team for their professionalism and due diligence reassuring me through a complex process taking the stress from me.”
Looking ahead
With the deal complete, Universal Container Services can now focus on the next chapter of their business.
If you need help with your business’s next major acquisition, the Gorvins Commercial Property team have experts ready to help you. Call us on 0161 930 5151, email us at enquiries@gorvins.com or fill in the online form to get started.