A fast-growing South-Wales based storage business is planning further expansion in Swansea as a result of continued growth in the city’s student numbers.

Privately-owned company Storage Giant is on the lookout for additional Swansea premises to cope with increasing demand, and to add to its five existing locations in South Wales: Swansea, Cardiff, Newport, Llanelli and Cwmbran. More than 5% of Storage Giant’s turnover during the summer months now comes from the student market in Swansea.

Speaking about the company’s aggressive plans to double its number of UK sites by 2020, Storage Giant Managing Director Simon Williams said:

‘UWTSD and Swansea University are both undergoing massive expansion which is causing Swansea’s current student population of 24,000 to increase rapidly. Storage Giant is currently developing the third phase of its existing facility in Swansea, that will add an additional 10,000 sq ft of storage units to support the student demand; these units will be complete before the end of the year. In addition, Storage Giant is looking for a second freehold building or site near Swansea which can be developed with state-of-the-art storage facilities to meet further demand.’

Five new student accommodation sites are due to open in Swansea over the next two years which will create more than 3,000 new rooms. These sites include developments in SA1, close to the new UWTSD waterfront campus, as well as others in Morfa, near the High Street and train station, and on the Kingsway, all areas which are undergoing extensive redevelopment. A new international college and student residence is also now open on Swansea University’s the Bay Campus and is targeting students post-Brexit from a worldwide market, including Australia and Asia.

Applications to Swansea University have grown by 60 per cent in the last 3 years and a significant proportion of new students are from outside Wales. These students often need short-term, easy access storage facilities for items like books, furniture and sporting equipment, which they cannot leave in their accommodation during term breaks, so Storage Giant is building to meet this market’s needs.

Storage Giant was established in 2003 to offer self-storage for domestic and business clients, as well as low cost office space. However, it quickly realised the potential to store students’ belongings, many of whom are studying many miles from home.

Speaking about Storage Giant’s focus on the student market, Mr Williams said:

‘Our existing premises in Bicester, Cannock, Cardiff, Cwmbran, Newport, Leicester, Llanelli, Swansea and Telford all support local student populations by offering low-cost, flexible and secure storage at easily accessible locations. Our aim is to increase our capability to support students in Swansea, as well as offer business start-up premises to help incubate SMEs and start-ups, which further supports the local economy and promotes new business growth, which is also a key objective for the universities.’

He added:

‘We are delighted to be a part of Swansea’s current growth and regeneration and plan to be a part of its business community for many years to come.’