Storage World Self Storage & Workspace, have recently opened our third store, a modern and multi-faceted self storage facility, based in a prime location – next to Manchester Airport and directly beside junction 6 of the M56 motorway.
The aim of this store is to provide a meaningful service to local businesses and individuals alike, from within the airport and its surrounding areas. Whether you’re looking for a place to store some household or personal items, or a flexible base to call your business premises, we’re conveniently located and have everything needed to get you set up.
The opening of our new store has of course coincided with the current global crisis, and yet we’ve seen demand immediately emerge from businesses in need of an urgent, yet flexible storage solution.
Managing Director at Storage World, Marc Studholme says:
“We didn’t ever anticipate our opening would face the challenges that it does. Customer demand is far more immediate and urgent, yet with the store being new, we have 450 units readily available meaning we can support every need.
“We expect the store to be a great success and the complexities involved in developing a self storage facility are significant.”
To get the new store off the ground, we worked alongside multiple suppliers and wanted to take this opportunity to explain more about how, by working with trusted partners, we were able to open our latest Storage World Location.
Mezzanine Solutions & Ask Active
We partnered with Ask Active Supply & Design to design and create our mezzanine floor system to house our internal units and allow efficient access. The mezzanine system features three-tiers, with four different levels of self storage units. This enables us to make the most of every bit of space available within the building.
Commenting on behalf of the installation, Gareth Williams, part of the project management team at Ask Active says: “Active Supply & Design were thrilled to win the contract for the latest exciting Storage World project in Hale Barns, close to Manchester Airport. Using innovative products and techniques, we were able to come up with a unique design for the mezzanine and meet the fire rating required.
“Such a design required some critical thinking regarding head room and corridor layout; specifically on the top floor, and this was overcome by utilising appropriate ramps and exacting measurements to ensure all adhered to building regulations. This design also focused on maximising the available escape distances in order to reduce the number of staircases to an absolute minimum which in turn increased the lettable space available.
“With communication between Ask Active and Storage World being paramount, a room layout including lockers, standard sized self-storage rooms and commercially friendly bulk-storage rooms was created to optimise the ability to house any self-storage tenant that walked through the facility’s doors.
“As with all facilities, the wow factor was an important issue for visiting self storage tenants so that they were genuinely impressed with every aspect of the store. In line with this, plasterboard walling and tall aluminum kick plate was utilised in the main entrance, as well as a first-floor atrium to give a further feeling of space, ensuring that first impressions really did count!”
In other words, what we really wanted to do was create an enticing and unique storage environment that not only serves a function and does that extremely well, but also looks good too. Ask Active helped us to do just that. This is a particularly important offering to bring to our business customers, as these tenants using our facility as a business premises may invite clients, customers and suppliers to meet with them here at Storage World. We aim to provide an impressive business space that appears modern, pristine and works practically for any number of businesses in a multitude of industries.
Elevator Solutions & Arc Elevators
An added complexity to the project was the movement of goods and people between floors. Here at Storage World we made a conscious effort to research all known products, and at one stage, we even questioned the viability of the project due solely to the available lift specifications. Fortunately, Allan Place of Arc Elevators embraced the challenge and developed what is regarded as the world’s first Machinery Directive Passenger lift of its kind, the free-standing Pendle MDP.
Commenting on the development, Allan Place Managing Director of ARC Elevators says: “The Pendle MDP is of independent British design and operates without a machine room or lift pit, also navigating the challenges of the height restrictions imposed. The lift is of an electronic traction design, anticipated to have significantly reduced running costs over alternatives. It’s modern in both design and appearance, of which we are especially proud. Not least the mechanical and electrical package we were able to develop in-house – and in less than 6-months.”
By introducing ARC Elevators to the project, we were able to make the development that we had initially envisioned, something that was very important to us. We were disheartened by the bump in the road, but were able to bring our vision to life perfectly with the help of this specialist team.
Signage Solutions & Sapphire Signs
A further significant contributor to the project success was Sapphire Signs. They co-designed, manufactured and installed an impressive LED system that elevates the appearance of the property and creates a clear visual of both the location and service offered. This eye-catching sign can be seen from the M65, and when taking off from the runway at Manchester Airport – a major achievement that we’re particularly proud of.
As with any new business venture, there were many contributors to the success of our third facility, and so we’d like to give further thanks to the many other businesses and individuals involved in developing the location to this point. P4 Planning, Knights plc, Rhino Safety, Manor Electrical, Two Stories Design, Flexible Office Furniture & Interiors, Simpson Packaging, Safety 2 Business, Jones Lang LaSalle, LaSalle Investments and Davies Harrison all helped to bring the project to a successful end.
On the face of it, self storage can appear simple and straightforward. This has only been the case in this instance due to the dedication and determination shown by each of the Storage World partners. We may now have reached the end of the construction phase of the journey, but we’re only at the very beginning of the business launch. Now we must develop awareness, talk to the local business and domestic communities and provide a service we can all be proud of.
If you require an efficient, cost-effective and reliable self storage solution near Manchester Airport, please contact us for your bespoke quote.
