High Wycombe artists who were forced to leave their creative home to make way for developers to build more than 200 flats say they have been left “in limbo” by the district council.

Developers were given the go-ahead to create 227 one and two bedroom flats on land including Commercial Square, Leigh Court, Wheelers Yard and the Birch, Malvern and Llanberis Houses in Leigh Street in October last year.

Commercial Square was home to a community of talented artists, furniture makers, jewellery designers, metal-workers, woodworkers and ceramicists - and many of the 80 artists who worked there were promised a new base in ‘DesBox’ a scheme thought up by Wycombe District Council (WDC).

DesBox will eventually be a base for creative entrepreneurs in the Baker Street area of the town, made from shipping containers – but the building has not yet been built, leaving dozens of artists without a place to work.

Dan Wilson, who had a workshop at Commercial Square and has been responsible for a number of murals around the town including the Brunel Shed and Lily’s Walk, said the creative community is being “let down” by WDC who were supposed to have built DesBox by now.

He said: “Many artists have had to move to home studios or are in limbo due to broken promises and delays. Our area's independent creatives are suffering when they should be being supported.”

A spokesman for Wycombe District Council said: "The DesBox creative base is an ambitious project which is part of our wider Baker Street regeneration plan.

"The redevelopment of Leigh Street has still to be confirmed. 

"We are seeking to clarify it with the scheme’s new owners quickly. Our original aspiration for the creative quarter still stands.”

While dozens of artists wait for their new home to be built, Dan will be helping to re-launch the Arts4Every1 centre on Desborough Road as a new hub for the creative arts in the meantime.

The historic church building and grounds were saved from development a decade ago, and it has been run as community arts centre Arts4Every1 ever since – but a new team is taking on the running of the organisation.

The re-launch of the building – as the Wycombe Arts Centre – will be held on April 21 from 11am, with an art sale, stalls, music, street food and a live painting demo.