Business Improvement Districts
Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are clearly defined commercial areas in which extra improvement and management are funded by contributions made by the businesses operating within it. Although the BID is funded primarily through the levy, it can also draw on other public and private income streams funding for specific schemes and projects.
How BIDs operate
All organisations with inherited property (rateable business units) can vote in the BID ballot. If the outcome is ‘yes’, all organisations in the BID area must pay the BID levy, regardless of how they voted. The council holds the money in a ring-fenced BID Revenue Account which it passes to the BID to spend on projects and services solely in the BID area.
A cap may be applied to the total amount of levy any organisation needs to pay. This accommodates organisations with more than one inherited property in the BID area. It also protects smaller firms with a high rateable value. The proposal will set the term of the BID, but it can be no more than 5 years (at which point in time a new ballot is required).
Empty properties, excluding listed buildings, will be liable for the BID levy through the property owner. When a business ratepayer receives charitable relief from business rates, the council give relief from the BID levy. Otherwise, the reduction in the BID levy is only permitted if they are occupying educational-type premises. The BID levy rules in the proposal cannot be altered during the lifetime of the BID without a full alteration ballot.
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BIDs can deliver a better environment for Westminster’s commercial centres and help boost the local economy by supporting business communities. The funding is used to implement the projects prioritised by the business community in the BID business plan. This may include initiatives like masterplanning, marketing, promotion and events, town centre management, physical improvements to the town centre and additional street cleaning, waste collection and recycling.
While BIDs are business-led, they benefit those working, living and visiting the area. They make Westminster cleaner and safer, reduce traffic, support local people into employment and develop relationships with local residents groups (including having seats on neighbourhood forums).
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The Westminster Business Unit are able to provide information, advice and support about BIDs, including Business Rates information, details of current service provision, sharing of best practice and experience.
The Greater London Authority (GLA) are the main source of support for BIDs. Read details of their work programme aimed at supporting existing and future London BIDs.
For more information, please email businessunit@westminster.gov.uk. For the enabling legislation, please see the Local Government Act 2003.
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Victoria Westminster BID Ballot
Date of Ballot : Wednesday 5 September 2018
WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID)
DECLARATION OF RESULTBarbara Brownlee, for the Ballot Holder of the Victoria Westminster BID area has declared the official result on the BID area renewal proposal as follows:
The total number of votes cast in the ballot excluding any votes given on ballot papers rejected was 73
The declaration has confirmed that 83.56% of the (61) total number of votes cast were in favour of the proposal
The declaration has confirmed that the aggregate rateable value of each property in respect of which persons voting in the ballot have voted in favour of the proposal as £119,672,500 (97.74%)
This means that the Victoria Westminster Business Improvement District proposal is approved as a majority of the business ratepayers in the BID area who voted in the ballot, both by aggregate rateable value and number voting, voted in favour of the proposal.
Councillor David Harvey, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Education and Community, Westminster City Council commented,
“BIDs are a proven partner to the Council and I am thrilled that this successful ballot result will see the 60th BID established in the capital. BIDs demonstrate the power of collaboration, adding enormous value to the work we are doing to tackle economic and social issues from the changing face of retail to the challenge of rough sleeping. I look forward to continuing our partnership work with this new BID to improve the lives of people who live, work and play in our borough.”
The full ballot declaration can be read here.
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The Northbank BID Ballot
Date of Ballot: Thursday 22 February 2018
WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID)
DECLARATION OF RESULTBarbara Brownlee, for the Ballot Holder of The Northbank BID area has declared the official result on the BID area renewal proposal as follows:
The total number of votes cast in the ballot excluding any votes given on ballot papers rejected was 230
The declaration has confirmed that 93.91% of the (216) total number of votes cast were in favour of the proposal
The declaration has confirmed that the aggregate rateable value of each property in respect of which persons voting in the ballot have voted in favour of the proposal as £180,885,000 (97.65%)
This means that the Northbank Business Improvement District proposal is approved as a majority of the business ratepayers in the BID area who voted in the ballot, both by aggregate rateable value and number voting, voted in favour of the proposal.
The full ballot declaration can be read here.
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New West End Company BID Ballot
Date of Ballot: Thursday 14 December 2017
WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID)
DECLARATION OF RESULT
Stuart Love, for the Ballot Holder of the New West End Company BID area has declared the official result on the BID area renewal proposal.
The total number of votes cast in the ballot excluding any votes given on ballot papers rejected was 209
The declaration has confirmed that 92.34% of the (193) total number of votes cast were in favour of the proposal
The declaration has confirmed that the aggregate rateable value of each property in respect of which persons voting in the ballot have voted in favour of the proposal as £451,733,500 (95.98%)
This means that the New West End Company Business Improvement District Renewal proposal is approved as a majority of the business ratepayers in the BID area who voted in the ballot, both by aggregate rateable value and number voting, voted in favour of the proposal.
A copy of full details of the New West End Company Declaration of Result can be found here.
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Baker Street Quarter Partnership BID Ballot
DECLARATION OF RESULT
WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID)
Siobhan Coldwell, for the Ballot Holder of the Baker Street Quarter Partnership BID area has declared the official result on the BID area renewal proposal.
The total number of votes cast in the ballot excluding any votes given on ballot papers rejected was 159
The declaration has confirmed that 94.97% of the (151) total number of votes cast were in favour of the proposal
The declaration has confirmed that the aggregate rateable value of each property in respect of which persons voting in the ballot have voted in favour of the proposal as £120,034,500 (95.54%)
This means that the Baker Street Quarter Partnership Business Improvement District proposal is approved as a majority of the business ratepayers in the BID area who voted in the ballot, both by aggregate rateable value and number voting, voted in favour of the proposal.
Councillor Robert Davis, MBE DL, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Business, Culture and Heritage, Westminster City Council commented,
“Since 2013 the Baker Street Quarter Partnership has been a truly first-class ambassador for the businesses of Marylebone. Their efforts have resulted in huge investment in the area and they have been a driving force behind the Baker Street Two Way.
Their commitment to shaping Marylebone as a place both for people and business has resulted in a new sense of vibrancy and community, with food markets and guide tours now a regular occurrence.
I am therefore delighted that the future of the partnership is now secure for a further five years. Under the leadership of Penny and Simon I am confident that the partnership will continue to tackle the big issues facing the area such as air quality while harnessing the opportunities that Crossrail and the transformation of Oxford Street will bring to Marylebone.”
The full ballot declaration can be read here.
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PaddingtonNow BID Ballot
Date of Ballot : Thursday 9 November 2017
WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID)
DECLARATION OF RESULT
Siobhan Coldwell, for the Ballot Holder of the PaddingtonNow BID area has declared the official result on the BID area renewal proposal.
The total number of votes cast in the ballot excluding any votes given on ballot papers rejected was 182
The declaration has confirmed that 91.76% of the (167) total number of votes cast were in favour of the proposal
The declaration has confirmed that the aggregate rateable value of each property in respect of which persons voting in the ballot have voted in favour of the proposal £43,018,250 (96.46%)
This means that the PaddingtonNow Business Improvement District proposal is approved as a majority of the business ratepayers in the BID area who voted in the ballot, both by aggregate rateable value and number voting, voted in favour of the proposal.
Councillor Robert Davis, MBE DL, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Business, Culture and Heritage, Westminster City Council said,
“Over the last decade Paddington has been transformed into a leading business destination with several major national and international companies choosing to locate to the area. With an array of hotels and restaurants and improvements to the public realm, including the floating garden, Paddington is now a really attractive destination for businesses, workers, residents and visitors.
This transformation has been led by the hard work of PaddingtonNow which has corralled the various interests of stakeholders integral to Paddington’s future success and given them a unified voice, focused on achieving lasting investment and opportunities for a place of significant importance to Westminster. With Paddington set to welcome Crossrail in 2018 I am incredibly excited to see what lies in store for Paddington over the next five years and the City Council looks forward to working with PaddingtonNow to fully realise the potential of the area.”
Areas of Westminster covered by BIDs
BIDs are taking an increasing role in place leadership, stewardship and driving local economic growth. There are eight occupier BIDs currently operating in Westminster (note that two separate BIDs of Piccadilly and St James’s and Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus are hosted under the single brand of Heart of London Business Alliance). Please follow the links below to find out more about each BID and if your business is located in a BID area. You can also see the areas on our map here.
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A BID for the Marble Arch area was established on 1 April 2016 following a successful ballot outcome. The Marble Arch BID covers the northern stretch of Park Lane, Marble Arch, Connaught Village, Seymour Place, and Edgware Road, including the Marylebone Flyover.
Information on the Marble Arch BID
Marble Arch BID ballot results February 2016
Telephone: 020 3145 1210
getinvolved@marble-arch.london -
Area covered: Trafalgar Square, Strand, Aldwych
Information on the Northbank BID
The Northbank BID ballot results July 2013
Telephone: 0203 697 9273
katherine@thenorthbank.london -
Area covered: Baker Street South, Portman Square, Manchester Square and surrounding area
Information on Baker Street Quarter BID
Baker Street Quarter BID ballot results February 2013
Telephone: 020 3056 5910
info@bakerstreetq.co.uk -
Heart of London Business Alliance operates both the Piccadilly and St James’s BID and the Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus BID
Area covered: areas around Leicester Square and the West End
Information on Heart of London Business Alliance BIDs
Heart of London BID ballot results February 2012
Telephone: 020 7734 4507
info@heartoflondonbid.co.ukWestminster City Council was appointed to hold ballots for two proposed property owner business improvement districts at Piccadilly and St James’s and Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus, in the areas covering the existing Heart of London Business Improvement District occupier BID areas. These ballots closed on 18& June 2015 (the day of the ballot).
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Area covered: Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street
Information on New West End Company BIDNew West End Company BID ballot results December 2012
Telephone: 020 7462 0680
info@newwestend.comNotice of Ballot held 17 December 2015
Westminster City Council was appointed to hold a ballot for a proposed property owner business improvement district in the area covering the New West End Business Improvement District occupier BID area. This ballot closed on 17 December 2015 (the day of the ballot).
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Area covered: 34 streets to the west, south and east of Paddington Station
Information on PaddingtonNow BIDPaddingtonNow BID ballot results November 2017
Telephone: 020 3145 1212
info@Paddingtonnow.co.uk -
Area covered: Victoria Street, Buckingham Palace Road, Grosvenor Gardens and around Victoria Coach Station
Information on Victoria BID
Victoria BID ballot results February 2015
Telephone: 020 3004 0786
info@victoriabid.co.uk
businessunit@westminster.gov.uk
