As part of the Parsons Containers Group’s 25th anniversary, ContainerContainer is supporting a major redevelopment of the group’s key depot on the A66 in Darlington – strengthening the site’s role as a central hub for shipping container sales, hire and conversions for customers across the UK.
From a small resale business launched in 2000 by founder and Group CEO Ean Parsons, the Parsons Containers Group has grown into a well-known name in the container industry. Within its first year, the business generated £250,000 in sales, and soon after expanded into self-storage with the creation of U Hold The Key, initially testing the concept with a few units in Sedgefield.
Today, the group includes ContainerContainer’s nationwide container sales and conversions service, alongside an established network of 11 U Hold The Key self-storage sites across the North East, serving locations including Stockton-on-Tees (two sites), Middlesbrough, Sunderland, South Shields, Newcastle, Gateshead, Bishop Auckland, Alnwick, Mainsforth and the A66 Darlington hub.
A66 Darlington depot becomes an even stronger central hub
The A66 site, acquired in 2016, was originally brought into the group with a clear goal: to bring container sales, storage and operations into one strategically located depot. It has since evolved from a combined sales and U Hold The Key storage facility into the group’s main operational base.
In 2020, the container sales office moved from the Grade II* listed Manor House in Sedgefield to the A66 site, and the depot is now home to the group’s sales, logistics and operations teams. Customers using ContainerContainer can visit the yard, walk around the stock and choose from a wide range of new and used shipping containers, specialist units and conversion projects.
The next stage is a significant redevelopment programme at the A66 site, led by Group CEO Ean Parsons, Managing Director Helen Parsons and Operations Manager Dean Tempest. The project will:
- Extend and remodel the depot layout
- Improve operational efficiency and vehicle flow
- Increase storage capacity for containers
- Enhance the on-site customer experience
This investment will support further development of the container sales yard, allow for the repositioning and expansion of self-storage facilities, and upgrade the site’s infrastructure so the full range of stock can be displayed more effectively. Work on the redevelopment is scheduled to start later this month.
What the redevelopment means for ContainerContainer customers
For customers buying or hiring containers through ContainerContainer, the improvements at the A66 depot will mean:
- Easier site visits – a better laid-out depot for viewing stock in person
- More choice – increased capacity for a broader range of container types and sizes
- Smoother logistics – more efficient loading, unloading and transport
- Room for growth – extra space to support container conversions and bespoke projects
Ean Parsons, Group CEO, said:
“The redevelopment of the A66 site is about building a platform for the future. We’re extremely proud of what we’ve achieved over the last 25 years, but our focus is firmly on what comes next. This investment will allow us to support more customers, operate more efficiently and continue our growth across the region and beyond.”
Managing Director Helen Parsons added:
“People want to feel confident when choosing a container, and being able to visit the A66 site to see what they are purchasing first-hand gives them the reassurance and guidance they need and has become central to our customer offering. This next stage of development will strengthen that experience and reflect the scale of where the business is now.”
25 years of steady growth in the container market
From weathering the 2007 credit crisis to navigating the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Parsons Containers Group has built a reputation for reliability and long-term thinking. The business now employs 23 people, many of whom have been with the company for well over a decade, helping to shape its culture and stability.
Over the next 12 months, the group will mark its 25th anniversary with a series of celebrations that also recognise 25 years of U Hold The Key. A recent event at the Manor House in Sedgefield brought together staff, customers, partners and friends to reflect on the journey so far and look ahead to the next chapter.
For ContainerContainer customers, the A66 redevelopment is a visible sign of that next chapter – a long-term investment in better infrastructure, better service and a stronger, more efficient hub for shipping container sales, hire and conversions.