U.K. self-storage operator Safestore Holdings PLC has opened new facilities in Altrincham and Chiswick, England. Both properties were converted from other uses to self-storage, according to a company press release.

The Altrincham facility at 1-2 Atlantic St. is the company’s 10th in the Greater Manchester area. The site was previously a Cotton Traders clothing store. It comprises 43,000 square feet of storage space.

“The Altrincham store is a fantastic addition to our portfolio,” said David Penniston, property director. “Safestore has a strong presence in the northwest of England, and our new facility will help us meet the growing self-storage demands in the Greater Manchester region.”

The Chiswick property at 22 Sutton Lane N. is just off the Great West Road. It was formerly owned by Dairy Crest, an integrated dairy business. The six-story facility comprises 42,000 square feet of storage space, including two basement levels and underground customer parking. To comply with health and safety regulations, the basement levels have been fitted with water-mist systems designed to extinguish flames without flooding the area, the release stated. An extractor system is also in place to help remove moisture and smoke in the event of a fire.

The facility features a “green wall” at the rear of the store, which faces residential properties. The vertical garden is designed to soften the store’s exterior and become a haven for bees and wildlife in the summer months, the release stated. The facility also contains solar panels that will supply the property with sustainable energy. “Our Chiswick store is one of the first to exhibit exciting new features like the green wall,” Penniston said.

Safestore operates 131 self-storage facilities, including 95 facilities it owns in the U.K. and 24 in France. Its wholly owned properties comprise more than 5 million square feet of storage space, while its entire portfolio serves approximately 49,000 customers.

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