Sian Berry today pledged urgent support for the small and medium-sized enterprises which provide half the jobs in London yet are battling to stay in business in the present out-of-control property market.
The Green mayoral candidate made the pledge today at the Elephant & Castle where small businesses and traders at the heart of a massive gentrification project have lived with years of uncertainty and now face the prospect of eviction.
This follows a survey by the Federation of Small Businesses which found that 56 percent of the nearly 7,000 micro and small firms it represents in the capital say business property costs (including rent, rates and availability) require urgent reform and are the critical issue they face.
Sian said: “Boris Johnson has ignored 99 percent of London’s enterprise with his neglect of small businesses, and seems content for firms that make things in our city to go completely extinct. We can’t rebuild London without space for jobs but his London Plan does nothing to protect firms like the Latin American businesses at the Elephant during regeneration projects.
“Businesses need to have enough security in their lease to be confident investing in their premises and equipment. They need stability and predictability in their rents, so they can plan ahead without being stung by sudden increases. And they need to be fully involved in any redevelopment proposals, with options explored so that they can retain existing business space where possible. This is not just the decent way to treat them – it’s of critical importance to London’s economic health.
“I’m promising today to protect existing employment and small business space. London can justify exempting many locations from the Government’s plans to allow shops and offices to be converted to housing, and a strong new London Plan will ensure space for jobs is included in all new development areas. I will support local authorities in creating permanent exemptions where needed. And I will ensure all businesses displaced in City Hall and council regeneration plans are able to return to those sites at reasonable rents.”