Cafe says it will shut due to 60% rent hike

Tone Thompson opened his coffee shop in a shipping container in 2019

The owner of a cafe in a recycled shipping container said a rent increase imposed by the council had forced him to close.

Tone Thompson said charges for his unit at the council-owned Desbox development in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, were set to increase by 60%.

He will be serving his last customer on Tuesday.

Buckinghamshire Council said rents had gone up in line with market values and it was happy to talk to tenants with concerns.

Desbox is made up of old shipping containers refurbished by a firm in Suffolk

Desbox was opened by Wycombe District Council in 2019.

The shipping containers were provided by the London-based firm Container City, which specialises in developments based on recycled shipping containers and completed one for the 2012 Olympics.

Buckinghamshire Council became responsible for Desbox when Wycombe district was abolished in 2020.

Mr Thompson was one of the first occupants of Desbox and said: "It was very exciting at the time because it was brand new and the council was very much about listening to ideas.

"The council were very helpful, which allowed us to get our feet under the table, settle down and build up our reputation in the area."

Now, with the rent rising from just under £1,000 a month to £1,600, "it's become a lot more difficult to remain here and it's got to a point where it's not sustainable any more", he said.

As he prepared to shut the doors for the last time, he said: "We have a lot of people who come here for someone to talk to, and that's not going to be here for them any more."

Hayley Clarke faces stepped increases in rent for her flower shop over the next three years

Another of the Desbox units is rented by Hayley Clarke, who runs the Stems of Beauty flower shop.

Her lease comes up for renewal in November, and she said she had been told there would be a stepped increase in rent each year - and the first year's rise is "quite a jump".

She said: "It's going to be tight with everything else going up - the cost of flowers and sundries - and everybody cutting back as flowers are a luxury at the end of the day."

There are about 40 units in shipping containers at the site

Julie Ward, Buckinghamshire Council's deputy cabinet member for town centre regeneration, said: "There have been rent increases in line with market values.

"We aren't able to comment on specific cases, but where leases are due to end, we attempt to engage with tenants.

"Where these tenants confirm no intention to renew their lease, we will seek alternative interest by marketing the premises through our agents."

Mr Ward continued: "We will always discuss individual concerns directly with our tenants to explore suitable solutions."