Commercial Clearance Services

Not every clearance is an office. Retail shops, warehouses, industrial units, restaurants, hotels — every type of commercial premises needs clearing at some point. The process, regulations and costs vary significantly by sector. We handle all of them, with the same Duty of Care compliance and environmental reporting we bring to every job.

Beyond Offices

While office clearance is our bread and butter, we regularly clear premises that have nothing to do with desks and chairs. Commercial clearance covers any non-residential property where the contents need removing — from a single high-street shop to a 50,000 sq ft distribution warehouse.

The types of commercial premises we clear include:

• Retail — shops, department stores, shopping centre units, concessions
• Warehouse and logistics — distribution centres, fulfilment hubs, storage facilities
• Industrial — factories, workshops, manufacturing units, trade counters
• Hospitality — restaurants, pubs, cafes, hotels, event venues
• Healthcare — clinics, dental surgeries, care homes (excluding clinical waste requiring specialist handling)
• Education — schools, colleges, training centres, libraries
• Mixed-use — buildings with multiple uses (ground-floor retail with upper-floor offices, for example)

The principles are the same regardless of premises type: sort everything for maximum reuse, recycle what can't be reused, dispose of the rest responsibly, and document it all.

Sector-Specific Considerations

Retail clearance

Retail clearances involve shop fittings, display units, signage, point-of-sale equipment, stockroom racking and sometimes unsold stock. Quality retail fixtures (gondola shelving, glass display cases, mannequins) have good resale value through specialist trade channels. Branded signage and fitments usually need to be returned to the franchisor or destroyed — we handle both.

Key consideration: if the shop is in a shopping centre or managed estate, vehicle access is usually restricted to loading bays with specific time slots. We coordinate with centre management to avoid disruption.

Warehouse clearance

Warehouses can contain anything from pallet racking and conveyor systems to residual stock and packaging materials. The sheer volume often makes warehouses our largest projects by weight — a single warehouse clearance can generate 20–50 tonnes of material.

Key consideration: heavy racking and mezzanine systems need safe dismantling. If racking was installed to a specific design (most is), it should be dismantled in the reverse sequence to the original installation. We use experienced racking dismantlers for this.

Industrial clearance

Industrial premises often contain equipment that requires specialist disconnection — three-phase electrical supplies, compressed air systems, extraction units, and sometimes hazardous materials (cutting fluids, solvents, oils). Environmental surveys may be needed before clearance begins, particularly for older premises with potential asbestos or ground contamination.

Key consideration: industrial equipment often has significant scrap metal value. We ensure this is recovered and credited back to you rather than being treated as waste.

Hospitality clearance

Restaurant, pub and hotel clearances involve commercial kitchen equipment (ovens, fridges, extraction systems), furniture (tables, chairs, booths), bar equipment, and often specialist items (coffee machines, glass washers, POS systems). Commercial catering equipment holds good resale value if in working condition.

Key consideration: grease traps, gas disconnections and extraction ductwork may need specialist handling. We arrange this as part of the project.

Regulated Waste in Commercial Settings

Different commercial premises produce different regulated waste streams. All require separate handling and documentation:

• WEEE — electrical and electronic equipment (computers, monitors, fridges, lighting). Must be processed through approved treatment facilities
• Fluorescent tubes — classified as hazardous waste due to mercury content. Separate collection and licensed disposal required
• Batteries — all types require separate collection. Large UPS batteries in server rooms need specialist handling
• Oils and chemicals — cutting fluids, solvents, cleaning chemicals from industrial and hospitality premises. Consignment notes required
• Asbestos-containing materials — if your premises were built or refurbished before 2000, an asbestos survey is strongly recommended before any clearance or strip out work. We arrange licensed removal through approved contractors
• Clinical waste — from healthcare settings. Requires separate specialist collection (we can arrange this, but it's handled by licensed clinical waste contractors)

We identify regulated waste during our site survey and ensure each stream is handled correctly. You receive separate documentation for each waste type.

Scale Considerations

Commercial clearance projects range enormously in scale:

Single premises

A single shop, office or small warehouse. Typically 1–3 days. Straightforward project management with one team on-site.

Multi-site portfolio

Closing multiple locations as part of a restructure or acquisition. This requires programme-level management — phased timelines, consistent processes across all sites, and consolidated reporting. See our decommissioning service for how we manage multi-site operations.

Large-scale industrial

Factory closures, distribution centre decommissions, and large-scale industrial clearances. These projects often run for weeks, involve heavy equipment, and require specialist subcontractors for things like crane hire, asbestos removal, or environmental remediation. We act as the principal contractor, coordinating all trades.

Costs by Premises Type

Typical UK price ranges for commercial clearance (contents only, not including strip out):

These are indicative ranges — the actual cost depends on volume, access, specialist disposal requirements, and location. Use our cost estimator for a quick figure, or book a free site visit for an accurate quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of commercial premises do you clear?

We clear all types of commercial property — offices, retail shops, warehouses, industrial units, mixed-use premises, restaurants, pubs, hotels, healthcare facilities and educational buildings. Each type has its own requirements for waste handling, access and specialist disposal.

How much does commercial clearance cost?

Commercial clearance costs vary widely depending on the type and size of premises, volume of contents, access difficulty and any specialist disposal requirements. As a guide: a small retail unit might cost £500–£2,000, a medium warehouse £3,000–£10,000, and a large industrial unit £10,000–£30,000+. We provide free site visits and fixed-price quotes.

Can you handle regulated or hazardous waste?

Yes — we handle regulated waste streams including WEEE (electrical equipment), fluorescent tubes, batteries, oils, chemicals, asbestos-containing materials (via licensed subcontractors), and clinical waste. All regulated waste is disposed of through approved channels with full documentation.

Do you clear warehouse racking and industrial equipment?

Yes. Warehouse racking, shelving, industrial equipment and machinery can all be removed as part of a commercial clearance. Heavy or fixed equipment may require specialist lifting or disconnection, which we arrange as part of the project.