Derelict scrubland that once was used as a makeshift camp for the homeless has been transformed as part of a giant new storage facility. The notorious Yak Yak Land was cleared after being at the centre of repeated anti-social complaints.
It had been set up by rough sleepers in a wooded area off North Street, Stoke, and bordering the A500. But the land is now completely unrecognisable after it was taken on by Pink Storage, which provides 60,000sqft of self-storage units to hire.
As well as Yak Yak Land, Pink Storage has also taken over the site of the historic site of the former Minton Hollins ceramic tile factory, once known for supplying tiles to prestigious landmarks like the Palace of Westminster and the U.S. Capitol Building.
Managing director Scott Evans said Stoke-on-Trent had historically been under-served in the self-storage sector, leading to higher prices for residents and businesses. He explained that Pink Storage aimed to bridge this gap with competitive pricing and flexible options. Each unit is fully automated meaning customers can easily access their units which are covered by CCTV 24/7.
Inside Yak Yak Land
(Image: Supplied)
Scott said: “Stoke-on-Trent is now our largest branch in the country and a vital addition to our network. As the demand for storage is often lifestyle-driven, our new facility supports our customers’ needs by offering affordable, flexible, and convenient storage solutions. We’re also proud to repurpose such a significant site, contributing to the city’s heritage and regeneration efforts.”
The transformation of the land comes five years after residents first started complaining their lives were being made a misery by those staying at the camp that was nicknamed Yak Yak Land. Among the issues included fires getting out of control, people rummaging through bins and apparent drug use.
Repeated efforts to stop homeless people from congregating and living there had failed until the site was finally cleared by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire Police around two years ago.
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