London is changing. So are the people who make it.
Across the capital, neighbourhoods are being reshaped. New developments rise where old ones stood. For residents and visitors, regeneration can signal progress. For the small businesses that have traded in those areas for years, sometimes decades, it means something far more complicated.
It means uncertainty. It means difficult decisions. And it means needing someone in your corner.
What we did
In June 2023, Camden Council commissioned Tree Shepherd to support 11 businesses based on the development site at Camley Street and Cedar Way Estate. These were longstanding local enterprises, many of them trading from the same spot for years, facing the prospect of having to move as redevelopment got underway.
Our job was to make sure none of them had to navigate that alone.
Over two years, we worked alongside each business to understand their situation, explore their options, and build a realistic plan for what came next. That meant one-to-one mentoring and business advice, help finding new premises, financial modelling, negotiation support with Camden Council and prospective landlords, enterprise workshops, and, where needed, guidance through responsible closure. We were on-site regularly throughout. That consistent presence mattered.
The programme concluded in February 2026, following the final vacant possession milestone on 31 January.
What happened
Eleven businesses. Eleven different journeys. Here is where they ended up.
Six businesses relocated to new premises. Several took on substantial fit-out works and operational changes to make their new spaces work. We supported them through every stage of that process.
Three businesses transitioned into new or adapted business models. Where relocation was not viable, we helped owners think clearly about what else was possible, and supported them through the practical and financial steps to get there.
Two businesses closed responsibly. When closure was the right outcome, we made sure it was handled with care, including guidance on redundancy processes, creditor negotiations, and asset disposal.
What we learned
Every programme teaches us something. Camley Street confirmed four things we now build into all of our relocation work.
Start early. The businesses that engaged with us from the beginning had more time, more options, and better outcomes. Relationship-building takes time. It cannot be rushed when a deadline is already close.
Stay flexible. No two businesses needed the same support. Some needed intensive property search help. Others needed financial modelling, or help managing staff, or simply someone to talk through the options with. The support has to move with the business, not the other way around.
Be clear about money. Uncertainty about compensation, deposits, fit-out costs, and tax treatment caused real stress. Earlier, plainer clarity from all parties would have made a significant difference. We advocate for this in every programme we work on.
Take wellbeing seriously.Running a small business through a regeneration process is hard. The emotional weight of it is real. Pastoral support and consistent reassurance are not extras. They are part of the job.
This work continues
The learning from Camley Street is already shaping how we support traders at Borough Triangle, where businesses are facing a similar transition ahead of an August 2026 deadline.
If you are a business owner facing the prospect of relocation, or a developer or council looking for a trusted partner to support your business community through change, we would like to hear from you.
