A businessman has said he will make \u201cno apologies\u201d for offering micro units to start-up companies – despite not having planning permission.<\/p>\n
The owner of a set of units on the outskirts of Lynn town centre believes so, as he has slammed the Government for not implementing help for smaller business start-ups.<\/p>\n
However, his business plan has not been supported by West Norfolk Council, as planners refused an application last year.<\/p>\n
The site is located on Edward Benefer Way. Picture: Lucy Carter<\/p>\n
Steven Layn, who owns The Courtyard, a series of micro units on Edward Benefer Way alongside his son Richard, says it provides an affordable option for small businesses.<\/p>\n
Mr Layn says there is \u201cno long-term commitment\u201d for those who want to use the units.<\/p>\n
\u201cGovernment policies are woeful when it comes to supporting business, especially small businesses, it has to be said,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Courtyard, located on Edward Benefer Way. Picture: Steven Layn<\/p>\n
\u201cBut often local government\u2019s interpretation of those policies and the sheer lack of understanding of what it takes to operate a small business and be successful only makes it worse.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Layn admits the pods are not yet being run with planning permission from the borough council, as the authority refused an application in May last year – citing fears about the impact they would have on the town centre.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the authority told the Lynn News that Mr Layn has not appealed the application since it was rejected.<\/p>\n
Inside one of the micro business units on offer. Picture: Steven Layn<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough we do not comment on planning decisions, we will say that this retrospective planning application was refused in May 2025,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith nearly 12 months having passed, the applicant has not appealed that decision. We understand the applicant is preparing a further application to address outstanding matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
In its decision notice, planning officers said the \u201ccouncil will strongly resist proposals for out-of-centre retail uses that either individually or cumulatively would undermine the attractiveness and viability of the town centre.<\/p>\n
The Courtyard has a number of small retail units available to rent. Picture: Lucy Carter<\/p>\n
\u201cThe site lies just over 600m by road from the town centre, as defined in the plan associated with the Local Plan, and there are vacant shops\/units in the town centre that would readily accommodate the proposed development.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, Mr Layn said: \u201cI am not going to say the council are negative, and constructive talks are continuing, but they are certainly not using a positive approach.<\/p>\n
A number of units are available to rent. Picture: Steven Layn<\/p>\n
\u201cWe, as most people, can see Lynn clearly needs a boost.\u201d<\/p>\n
The businessman said the site had been \u201cderelict\u201d and an \u201ceyesore for many years\u201d, but it is now being \u201cbrought back into constructive use again\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201c[It has been] made into something that is not only neat and tidy, but it is clearly supplying a need in the area in terms of free enterprise, entrepreneurship and the obvious employment that comes with that,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are not asking for money from West Norfolk Council or anyone else. We are prepared to pump hundreds of thousands of pounds of our own money into Lynn, as we have faith in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are looking for support, encouragement and a positive approach only – we will do the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Layn, who is a director of Layn Holding Group, said high start-up costs for businesses deter people from wanting to start out, as well as those who may run their enterprise from home but want to expand further.<\/p>\n
His units are listed to rent for \u00a3325 per month.<\/p>\n
He has also emphasised his commitment to improving Lynn, mentioning how the site, located next to Home Bargains, was an \u201ceyesore\u201d for many years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are businesspeople, we come from a small background, so we understand the mindset of the budding entrepreneur,\u201d Mr Layn added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe make no apology for making facilities available and suitable for these types of people, because frankly, one of the real pleasures in what we do is seeing people make their own way in life.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said that, unlike at longer-term units, it can be a positive when a business moves on.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven better is losing a tenant, as strange as it may seem, when they move on to bigger and better premises as their businesses grow,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Planning officers had also raised concerns about the increased use of the junction where the site lies.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we have to make realistic, logical changes to comply with regulations, we have no problem with that, but please do not put obstacles in ours and Lynn\u2019s way so some people can simply justify their existence,\u201d Mr Layn added.<\/p>\n
\u201cLynn could flourish if it\u2019s given a chance, and there are so many entrepreneurs who just want to be given that chance.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A businessman has said he will make \u201cno apologies\u201d for offering micro units to start-up companies – despite…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":553062,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[84,4203,8781,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-553061","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entrepreneurship","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-entrepreneurship","10":"tag-kings-lynn","11":"tag-uk","12":"tag-united-kingdom","13":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/553061","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=553061"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/553061\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/553062"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=553061"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=553061"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=553061"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}