Business Improvement District (BID) renewal

Welcome to the Plymouth BID web pages.

Plymouth businesses have voted a resounding 'yes' in a ballot to decide on the renewal of the highly successful Business Improvement District (BID) initiative for Plymouth City Centre.

Results announced today showed more than 89 per cent of retailers backed the BID to remain as the driving force behind regeneration in the city centre for the next five years.

It's a big increase from the 77 per cent majority which voted to establish the BID in 2005 and sets a new record for the biggest mandate achieved in a major city centre-wide BID ballot in the UK.

The vote gives the go-ahead for Plymouth City Centre Company, working with Plymouth City Council and other partners, to take forward a business plan which will directly deliver £10 million of investment in the city centre over the next five years.

The money will go into a range of initiatives to improve the physical environment and the experience for shoppers, traders and visitors in the city centre, with clear priorities and action for:

• Attracting more customers to the city centre
• Improving the customer experience
• Supporting small businesses
• Planning and delivery with partners of major city centre regeneration

Duncan Currall, Chairman of Plymouth City Centre Company, said: "This is a fantastic vote of confidence in the achievements of the BID to date and gives us an incredibly strong mandate going forward to drive improvements for the city centre and lobby on behalf of its retailers and businesses at a local, regional and national level.

"I'd like to thank retailers for their support right through this process. We can focus very clearly now on delivering the business plan which retailers have helped shape and to working together with them, Plymouth City Council and our many other partners to transform Plymouth City Centre's trading environment. "

Vivien Pengelly, Leader of Plymouth City Council, welcomed the result, saying: "I love our city centre and I've seen it go from strength to strength despite some of the toughest economic conditions this country has ever faced. So I'm not at all surprised that the retailers have voted to continue the fantastic work that has taken place through the BID. You only need look around you to see the benefits and results the BID has enabled us to deliver.

"I'm very much looking forward to seeing all the new projects detailed in the updated BID come to life in our city centre. There's no doubt that the partnership between the City Centre Company, the retailers and the Council is an extremely effective one that will continue to flourish through the BID."

The South West RDA (Regional Development Agency) invested £50,000 to support the BID renewal process. Ian Thompson, the RDA's area director for Devon and Somerset, said: "A diverse and thriving Plymouth economy is vitally important to the wider region and the BID has achieved a great deal in helping unlock business potential in the city. We have been delighted to support the BID renewal to take forward and build on this good work."

The Plymouth BID started in 2005 after an initial ballot saw 77 per cent of retailers vote for the scheme, which is paid for by a levy of additional business rates.

It has been hailed a resounding success - and scooped 13 national awards - for transforming the city centre's shopping heartland, helping attract millions of pounds of investment and hundreds of thousands of new visitors.

The latest ballot to renew the BID follows a 12-month review and consultation process with city centre businesses and retailers to agree priorities on taking forward and building on the successes of the first four years.

A total of 574 voting papers went out to retailers and traders in the city centre in September, and the ballot closed on Friday 16 October.

Plymouth BID Business Plan [6.30MB]*

BID renewal launch presentation [2.5MB]

Plymouth BID final consultation [1.95MB]

Plymouth BID review [2.47MB]

Please note that the Plymouth 'BID Proposal' consists of everything on this website, including the BID Business Plan, BID Contract and supporting documentation, which collectively make up the BID Proposal. Once the BID has been approved, the BID Proposal will constitute the 'BID Arrangements' under the legislation.

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