- Location
- New Milton, Hampshire
- Main postcode district
- BH25
- Nearby (straight line)
- Christchurch (5 miles), Bournemouth (10 miles) and Ferndown (11 miles)
- Survey and quote
- Free, with a fixed written quote
A retractable dock shelter is a fabric shelter fixed to the building around a loading bay door, with flexible top and side curtains carried on a sprung or pantograph steel frame. When a trailer reverses in, the frame retracts and the curtains drape against the trailer's sides and roof, closing most of the gap while leaving the full width of the trailer opening clear for loading.
What should sites in New Milton consider?
Docks facing open ground in New Milton can catch rain driven sideways into the bay, which a well-fitted retractable shelter helps keep out. For a dock in New Milton where wide pallets need the full trailer opening, a shelter keeps that width clear while still closing the gaps.
If a shelter on an older unit in New Milton has a sound frame but torn, faded curtains, replacing just the curtains can be the economical choice.
We do not give a fixed price without seeing the site. A free survey in New Milton lets us check the details that affect the job, and the written quote that follows is a fixed price for the agreed scope. We plan the work around your operation, arrange out-of-hours access if you need it and manage specialist installation engineers throughout. Handover includes testing, a demonstration and the paperwork you need for your records.
How can I stop dock shelter curtains being torn?
Most curtain damage comes from trailers reversing in off-centre or too far, so better guidance for drivers and correctly set bumpers prevent most tears. Worn curtains can then be replaced individually without changing the frame.
- Wheel guides: steel guides on the approach steer the trailer into the centre of the bay.
- Guide stripes and lights: high-visibility stripes on the curtains and dock lights help drivers line up.
- Bumpers: worn bumpers let trailers push too far into the shelter and strain the frame.
- Frame springs: weak springs leave the frame unable to retract and recover.
- Curtain grade: heavier fabric and reinforced edges last longer at busy docks.
Checking curtains, frame and fixings at each planned service picks up damage early, before a loose curtain starts flapping in the wind and tears completely.
How much does a retractable dock shelter cost?
A retractable dock shelter typically costs £1,900 to £4,400 per shelter, excluding VAT, supply and fit. Most of the variation comes from size, projection and the curtain specification.
- Size: width and height, set by your door and the largest trailers you receive.
- Projection: deeper shelters cost more but leave room for opened trailer doors and the leveller lip.
- Curtains: heavier-grade fabrics, slit side curtains, adjustable top curtains and guide stripes.
- Frame: sprung, pantograph or rigid, in a galvanised or painted finish.
- Fixings: fixing to cladding usually needs a steel subframe or spreader plates.
- Access and removal: powered access equipment in the yard, and taking down an old shelter.
On an older shelter with a sound frame, new curtains may be all that is needed, and we will say so if that is the case. Every price is fixed in the written quote after a free site survey.
The same published guide range applies across England; access, out-of-hours working and site conditions are confirmed at the free survey.
What does the free survey cover?
- How drivers are prevented from pulling away too early
- Wheel guide positions and yard markings for reversing vehicles
- Asbestos register and any other site hazard information
- Yard gradient and the slope of the approach to the dock
- Gaps around trailers where heated or chilled air escapes
- Dock height and the mix of trailers you load
Options to discuss
Rigid frame with long curtains
A fixed frame carrying long flexible curtains, useful where the trailer only needs to touch the curtains and the frame can stay clear of impact.
Adjustable top curtain
A top curtain that can be lowered or raised to suit the height of the trailers you receive, closing the gap above lower vehicles.
Which rules apply in England?
Sites in New Milton fall under the rules for England. Structural changes such as forming a new opening or a dock leveller pit may need Building Regulations approval, and external structures such as loading houses, canopies or new dock approaches can need planning permission from the local planning authority. We check what applies at survey and build any approvals into the plan.
Questions about retractable dock shelters in New Milton
Will you deal with building control and planning for a project in New Milton?
We check at survey whether the work is likely to need approval. Forming a new opening or dock pit may need Building Regulations approval, a building warrant or building control approval, depending on the nation, and external structures such as loading houses can need planning permission. Where approval is needed, we explain what is involved, work with your designer or agent, and build it into the programme.
Do you cover New Milton for retractable dock shelters?
Yes. We take on retractable dock shelters for businesses in New Milton and across Hampshire. We survey the site, provide a fixed written quote and manage the installation, with specialist installation engineers working under our management. Visits are arranged in advance at a time that suits your operation, and the same single contact stays with the job through to handover.
Is the site survey in New Milton free?
Yes. For new installations, replacements, upgrades, conversions and complete bays, the site survey and written quote are free and come with no obligation. The survey lets us measure the openings, check the dock and structure, and understand how the bay is used, so the quote reflects your site. Repair and servicing visits are different: they are chargeable, with the price agreed before anyone attends.
How do drivers know where to stop?
Bumpers set the stopping point, and many sites add dock lights, wheel guides and guide stripes on the shelter curtains to help drivers line up and reverse squarely. Traffic lights at the bay tell drivers when it is safe to reverse in and when they may leave.
Can I replace just the curtains on an old shelter?
Yes, if the frame and fixings are sound, new top and side curtains can be fitted to an existing shelter, which is often the most economical way to restore it. The frame and springs are checked first, because new curtains on a failing frame will not last. This is handled as a repair, with the visit price agreed beforehand.
Retractable dock shelters near New Milton
Looking beyond New Milton? Our pages for Christchurch (5 miles), Bournemouth (10 miles) and Ferndown (11 miles) describe the same loading bay services and how to get in touch.
Other loading bay services in New Milton
Full guide to retractable dock shelters · Everything we do in New Milton
Whether it is a new bay or a fault on an existing one, call us or request a quote for your site in New Milton.