A SELF-storage operation which flourished in France has moved into York.

Stadium Self-Storage, a store-anything facility for both businesses and the public has opened on the James Street Industrial site, near Walmgate Bar, and already there are expansion plans to triple storage capacity to 66,000.

The venture fills the gap soon to be left by the redevelopment of a similar facility, the Access Business and Storage Centre in nearby Lawrence Street, York. Its 80 customers will now have the option of moving their stored gear to a new secure place a few hundred yards around the corner. Stadium Self-Storage is the brainchild of Stuart Larder, a former York chartered surveyor, who was a partner of Stansfield Property Agents in the city from 1976 to 1989 and now lives in France. Having developed the idea there, he recently established a branch in Huddersfield, but then turned his attention to York. He said: "I've been aware of the increasing commercial activity in York over the last few years and thought it would be a suitable place to expand the British side of the operation."

With the help of York Inward Investment Board Mr Larder has based his new outpost in Alexander Court, off James Street. It offers various-sized storage rooms from ten sq ft to 265 sq ft or more with a total of 22,000 sq ft available on the ground floor.

But Mr Larder plans to install two further floors within the roof space to triple the capacity. Stored items could range from house contents for housemovers in "overlap", to legal documents and personal archives. He is also offering self-drive van hire.

In addition, there is a .75 acre fenced compound available for the parking of cars, caravans, boats and commercial vans which is covered by surveillance cameras and lighting.