Artists who were allegedly given just days to pack up and move out of studios that are set to be turned into housing were treated “very fairly” according to developers.

High Wycombe’s community of artists, makers and designers, who have called Commercial Square in Leigh Street their home for years, were told to leave at the end of June - with some tenants saying they were given just nine days notice to find somewhere else to go.

Developers were given the go-ahead to demolish their studios and surrounding buildings to build 227 flats last year.

MCR Property Group, which bought the 2.5 acre site in April, said they had to complete a “needle sweep” of the area and address numerous fly-tipping issues after taking over.

Chris Taylor, fund manager at the Group, said: “For those few buildings that were tenanted, we dealt with the businesses and individuals very fairly and in line with their contracts. We are not about displacing people and businesses; we are investing in an area that clearly needs it and will have a positive outcome for town and local businesses.

It is our intention to deliver a mixed-use development which will dramatically enhance this part of High Wycombe.”