An independent business owner from Milton Keynes has laid bare the difficulties he, and others like him, face in the new city.
After 13 years occupying the same unit in Stony Stratford, Marc - who owns Marc Davies Bespoke Interiors Ltd - was given three months to vacate due to the space being redeveloped.
He has since searched high and low for suitable new premises, encountering one obstacle after another.
He says the biggest stumbling block is the excessively high cost to rent units across Milton Keynes.
Marc did find one space available for £18,000 a year, but when business rates, VAT and other charges were added in, that cost almost doubled – to £33,200 a year.
“That's before I have insurance, equipment or take a wage," he said.
Frustrated by the new city's inability to support independent creatives, he went online to share his thoughts, explaining just how difficult it is for small businesses.
“I wish I had the power to affect the change,” Marc told MKFM, “These decisions seem to come directly from the central government - especially that of things like business rates.
“In MK there is a repeating model of older workspaces being knocked down and then replaced with new modern buildings that are unaffordable, but also there’s a move of landlords looking to fill industrial sites with offices and storage. This model is failing a lot of us.
“I have been invited to be part of a discussion with MK Business Council and MP Chris Curtis about how we can affect change.
“Hopefully working with our MPs is the right route. In terms of local rental prices - I would love to see the local authority look to protect and support small businesses more - I am constantly reading about other businesses' struggles such as Great Gelato who recently had to close one of their shops.
“I have been astounded by the amount of other businesses who have reached out to me since my post,” Marc added.
“Although it has been good to realise I’m not alone, it is also upsetting how far reaching the problems are.”
