**Document:** Planning Statement **Application:** 25/90580/B — Erection of two-storey self-storage facility of 140 storage containers **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2025-10-30 **Parish:** Malew **Document Type:** report / planning_statement **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/32851-malew-land-adj-to-salt-barn-shop/documents/1069664 --- # Planning Statement Proposed Erection of Self Storage Facility Balthane Industrial Estate. Statement to accompany the Planning application February 2025 ![A photograph showing a two-storey self-storage facility composed of stacked shipping containers on a concrete pad at dusk.](https://images.planningportal.im/2025/06/7134103.jpg) ## Introduction. This statement is to support the application for the creation of a Self Storage facility situated in Balthane Industrial Estate, Ballasalla, Isle of Man. The proposed facility would provide 140 storage containers over two levels, of which 138 will be leased to members of the public and two will be retained for services and facility management purposes. At present my client has been successfully operating a similar facility in Jurby & Douglas and demand is continuing to grow. We believe, this expansion into the South of the island would be greatly welcomed. ## The Site. The application site is an existing site situated in the middle of an already established Industrial estate, previously the land was once used as a boat storage area and serving area. The existing site is approximately 152m long at its longest length and 32m wide, it is proposed to utilise the majority of the site to form the self-storage facility in the arrangement shown on drawing 101 & 102. The 140 permanently sited shipping containers will be operated in a tidy and professional manor offering safe, dry storage to local businesses and residents. Photos of an existing facility, operated by the same client, out in Jurby industrial estate can be found in Appendix A for reference, and this proposed site is intended to be operated in a similar fashion. ## The Proposal. The client is looking to establish a purpose-built self-storage facility to the South of the island. The proposed facility would comprise of 140 storage containers over 2 levels as shown in the proposed drawings submitted with the planning application. When viewing the site from the front elevation, containers will be situated predominately to the left hand side, while the right hand side will remain unobstructed creating an access road and designated parking to the site to allow for loading and unloading throughout. The perimeter of the site with be enclosed with industrial style fencing similar to others found within the estate. There will be a double gate placed along its front elevation which will be operated by a pin pad. Storage and Clientele Initially when we begin development in Jurby we expected the vast majority of clients to be private individuals storing mainly household items, with a few containers going to trades. However, from our current leasing records we are providing storage facilities, to a number of Retail, Construction/Tradesmen, Commercial Offices, Digital Entertainment, Event management companies and Fitness companies. Having had discussions with some of our clientele, they have confirmed that the presence of this facility has allowed them to successfully expand from mainly small home startups, into small to medium-sized businesses while maintaining relatively low overheads. Given that the storage facility is providing local businesses the opportunity to grow, it is argued that the very presence of these facility’s is providing an indirect benefit to the local economy. It is envisioned that by permitting this application and our subsequent expansion into the south of the island this trend is to continue to grow, enabling more small existing business and potential future startups the opportunity to expand. Staff The running of the storage facility is to be operated mostly remotely and there are no plans to have any permanent staff on site, however since opening the facility in Jurby we have regularly employed maintenance staff attending the site, along with office-based staff working from another location, the current facility in Jurby is providing employment for 3 members of staff, and should this expansion be permitted this number is likely to increase by another 2-3 Permanent Members of staff. Vehicle movements The proposed development would provide 140 Self storage containers with 20 parking spaces. This ratio of units to carparking spaces would comply with the advice received from the “Self Storage Association United Kingdom” who have release the following document (Appendix B) “Traffic Patterns for Self Storage” The SSA summarises that the requirement of parking for storage facilities of this size is 13.1 vehicles per day. As the table below indicates on average there are less than 14 vehicles per 299 units, entering a site over a 24-hour period. With customers staying approximately 1 hour on average, most sites would only ever have 4 or 5 vehicles on site at any given time.” ## Conclusion We believe that the proposed development is in-keeping with the designated use of the site and its surrounding areas. We believe we have undertaken sufficient analysis of the existing traffic movements on site and likely impact of the highways network and cannot see any reason for why this application would be deemed to be unsuitable in its current location. Therefore, we are hopeful of a swift and positive review. ![A data table displaying average daily vehicle counts corresponding to different quantities of self-storage spaces.](https://images.planningportal.im/2025/06/7134107.png) ### Appendix A – Photos of Existing Self Storage Facility External perimeter. Smart and professional Appearance ![A photograph showing rows of stacked shipping containers used for self-storage, illuminated by artificial lights at dusk.](https://images.planningportal.im/2025/06/7134109.jpg) ![A photograph showing a self-storage facility constructed from stacked dark green shipping containers. The view includes a gravel parking area with a car and a green metal fence in the foreground.](https://images.planningportal.im/2025/06/7134111.jpg) Smart and professional Appearance Large Suspended walkways ![A photograph showing rows of stacked dark shipping containers at a self-storage facility, illuminated by exterior lights against a twilight sky.](https://images.planningportal.im/2025/06/7134113.jpg) ![A perspective view of rows of dark green shipping containers flanking a red wooden walkway at a self-storage facility.](https://images.planningportal.im/2025/06/7134114.jpg) #### Large Suspended walkways ![A photograph showing a wooden walkway flanked by two rows of stacked shipping containers at dusk.](https://images.planningportal.im/2025/06/7134116.jpg) ## Appendix B – Self Storage Association UK Guidance on “Traffic Patterns for Self Storage” --- *Data sourced from the Isle of Man public planning register under the [Isle of Man Open Government Licence](https://www.gov.im/about-this-site/open-government-licence/).* *Canonical page: https://planningportal.im/a/32851-malew-land-adj-to-salt-barn-shop/documents/1069664*