Developer denies spoiling historic Burlington Arcade

Developers planning to turn London's historic Burlington Arcade into a destination for wealthy tourists have been accused of forcing out its traditional shops.

Daniel Bexfield, who has run a silver shop in the arcade for 13 years, says that he was told his store no longer "fits the look" wanted for the Grade II-listed site.

Developer Meyer Bergman informed him his lease, which ends in 2013, would not be up for renewal and then encouraged him to leave his premises before then.

"The arcade was built in 1819 specifically for small independent shops selling the best Britain has to offer," he said. "But the small shops are not what they want now, they are after the big boys of Prada, Gucci and Chanel.

"Those retailers need bigger premises that can only be accommodated by knocking together the shop fronts."

European property company Meyer Bergman acquired the arcade with New York-based property investor Joseph Sitt last year. Markus Meijer, Meyer Bergman's CEO, said a £5 million refurbishment was required to make it a "world-class destination".

He said that offers like the one to Mr Bexfield to leave before his lease was up were a result of the preference of many potential new tenants to have larger shops, requiring two premises to be knocked together.

He was supported by Trevor Pickett, who has owned Pickett leather and accessory shop in the arcade for 23 years. "We have got to move on," he said. "Burlington Arcade is not a National Trust property."