I am currently doing some research into utilising some secure land in greater Manchester.
As a keen camper I am looking at the viabilty of it being used as caravan, motorhome etc storage. It could probably hold 300 caravans comfortably.
Assuming the necessary were taken as a gimmie e.g High walls, secure gates cctv, everything you would expect from a CASSOA site, the advice im after is the importance of location.
The site is situated 10 mins from junction 24 of the M60 in Manchester. Its quite a busy road but a straight one from the motorway to the site. This will then take you onto the m60 ring road with access to large motorway network. Also very near peak districk.
The killer question to you is :
"is that an acceptable distance from the motorway if the facilities offered are first class"?
"What other criteria do you look for in storage sites"?
"Does the fact a site may be nearer to home(for residents of Greater Manchester anyway) have any benefits" ?
I would really appreciate your thoughts on this matter.
I currently have my van in storage half an hour's drive away (by motorway) from my home. I'd love to find one closer than that, if the new one offered facilities that were as good.
I've seen one site that's actually right next to the motorway - but that means that everyone passing can see it and knows it's there. That's a security risk, in my opinion.
For me, 24-hour access to my van (with prior notice) is important. If I want to collect or leave the van at 3am, there should be a way to do it.
Also, I have my van in storage because I've no room for it at home. The storage site has to offer facilities for me to clean the van: electricity points available on site, access to water, ladders etc. My current site will wash the van for me (for a charge) but won't allow me to wash it myself, which is a pain, as I know I'll do a better job and would like the option to be hands on.
Hope those ideas help. Good luck, oggster (and welcome to the forum).
------------- * You never know where you're going 'til you get there...
I think a lot would depend on whether it will be reasonably priced. Secondly, will you have someone living full time on site to monitor as that will be one of the conditions for CASSOA site plus of course insurance. Any wash facilities or Elsan points? What sort of opening hours will you have for summe and winter? Any difference in cost for a single or twin axle.
Finally do you intend to blow away any one caught stealing a caravan as that will be a big bonus in your favour?
My Storage site is 1/4mile from the motorway.
I have cleaning facilities, and 24hour access, via an access control barrier to get into the site then a padlocked gate to get into the compound.
I like the idea of the site being close to the motorway.
Our site is about 3 miles from the motorway but the road to the motorway gets gridlocked in the afternoons and someimes it can take you over half and hour just to do 3 miles. We now take a longer slower route down A & B roads but get onto the motorway a lot quicker.
I cant offer you an oppinion on your site in manchester but I can give my thoughts on storage in general. I think for me I would like 24hr availability of the van currently our storage site doesnt offer this. If 24hr isnt an option why not offer 6am to 10pm arrival and departure from storage site.As you have said you are close to a main route which is always handy for departing for a holiday. A hook up in the yard isnt of high importance but it could be usefull for packing up for winter if you do so and cleaning the van with a vaccum cleaner. Water and the ability to clean are a major help, But one thing I think everyone may probably overlook is the controll of rodents with in the facility as ours is part of a catery/kennels site and near houses as well mice etc are probably low in numbers.
Good luck with your venture hope everything works out.
are you actually working the land now ? as somebody is making a large caravan storage site in stalybridge as we speak, they already store caravans on the site and they are making it a lot bigger.
------------- chevy dayvan 5.7 v8 pulling a bailey senator carolina doing about 10 to the gallon but having fun fun fun
Sounds good to me, we store ours a mile away from home and we are about ten mins from the motorway. It is really handy being so close to the storage site and saves so much time.
I'd have thought a good secure storage facility 10 miles from a motorway netwrok would be a good idea.Considering where you are, once you meet the CASSOA requirements & would be recognised by insurance companies I'd have thought you'd soon sell your 300 spaces. A few things I'd like to see in a storage compound would be, toilets, caravan washing faciities, access to electricity plus of course good hours of access to the caravan.
J24 is Denton, one junction down from Ashton. Is the facility indoor or outdoor storage? We opted for indoor storage and are really glad with the very wet weather we get, so that would be important for us. We currently store near Huddersfield as there is not anything closer to us. I didn't know about any caravan storage in Stalybridge though.
As a matter of interest why would any one want toilets in a storage depot as it means someone has to clean them which adds to the cost especially when most caravans have their own toilets. Elsan point maybe.
Electric connection but on a coin slot otherwise it pushes up the cost of storage. A list of approved contractors who can do an efficient job on caravans when required could be considered.
Having a site open from 0800 to 2000 hours is more than ample otherwise it adds to costs. In winter it could be from 0800 to 1800 hours. Having it open extra long hours affects the site owner's insurance premium.
The site should not flood at all or end up with large puddles all over the place.
We moved from our local storage due to restricted access and now have 24hr /365 day access to the van .The owners do live on site and we have a key to the electric gate which is monitored.We often leave and return in the middle of the night on long trips.
We have a washing facility with free electric nearby if you wish to check anything and the storage cost is very reasonable,they do store around 700 vans though.
Quote: Originally posted by Lassie on 15/9/2009
J24 is Denton, one junction down from Ashton. Is the facility indoor or outdoor storage? We opted for indoor storage and are really glad with the very wet weather we get, so that would be important for us. We currently store near Huddersfield as there is not anything closer to us. I didn't know about any caravan storage in Stalybridge though.
hi lassie.....the one in stalybridge is on whitelands road up the top end near bayley street, they have good facilities and they are just devolping some more land for more storage...looks well organized though.
------------- chevy dayvan 5.7 v8 pulling a bailey senator carolina doing about 10 to the gallon but having fun fun fun
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Opening a caravan storage site
