Tenants given more time to move out of Innovation Centre

A Leicestershire council says it will give tenants more time to move out of a start-up hub after being criticised for being heavy-handed.

Harborough District Council has made the climbdown, saying it will “offer more time and flexibility” to long-stay occupants of the Harborough Innovation Centre.

The Council opened the centre in 2011 and took over its management on 1 July this year. Long-term tenants at the centre said they were given notice to move on from the facility at the end of their lease – or at the completion of the next one.

However, the Council has now softened its stance, offering a statement which reads: “When Harborough District Council took over management of the Innovation Centre on 1 July 2019, long-term occupiers were initially told their licences would not be renewed when they expired in accordance with the aims of the Innovation Centre’s agreed lettings policy which states that businesses would have a limited stay.

“However, the Council recognises that this could cause undue difficulty for some firms. Therefore the Council is going to offer the affected occupants flexibility and agree departure dates that work for them as best as possible.”

Tenants at the centre had complained of a lack of suitable office space in the area, with some saying they would have to leave south Leicestershire altogether.

The Council says it is now writing to occupants at the Innovation Centre to explain the more flexible approach and offer support and assist the affected businesses in moving to suitable new premises.

Councillor Phil King, leader of Harborough District Council and assets lead, said: “We are acutely aware of the important role businesses play in our district and we’re delighted to see so many start-ups navigate their way successfully through their initial years. It is important that we continue to provide this important launch pad for emerging businesses in the district, but we recognise that the way existing occupants have been informed about the need to relocate could have been handled better.

“We have taken immediate steps to make sure our existing occupants are given the support and flexibility they need to make the right choices for their business as they look to find more permanent premises and I would like to apologise for any concern our initial approach may have caused.

“I have asked senior officers to meet with businesses at the Innovation Centre and a meeting has been arranged with the Chairman of the Innovation Centre board.”