BID update

BID projects prioritised

A business planning event in February involving over 60 city centre businesses prioritised 50 potential BID projects that were identified from the retail survey conducted in Autumn 2003. A real time voting system ensure that every individual retailer had their say.

A spokesperson said "I have really enjoyed being involved in the BID planning process in Plymouth which is unique in allowing retailers to vote on the projects that we want implemented. The emerging business plan has been developed by retailers and will help my business by attracting more high spending shoppers from outside the city boundary.

Retailers vote on BID projects

Below illustrates those projects that were identified as most important to be delivered by the BID, in order of priority:

1. Drake Circus - PR strategy
2. Ambassadors training
3. Power washer
4. Security presence
5. Square - Frankfort Gate
6. Regional marketing
7. Clean team
8. Park and ride
9. Squares - Cornwall Street
10. Safer car parks
11. Car park signage
12. Larger Litter Bins
13. Square - New George Street
14. PARC
15. Events
16. Pay on exit
17. Car park cleansing
18. Christmas lights
19. CCTV operator
20. Website
21. Subsidised car parking
22. Buildings lighting
23. tter Enforcement
24. Ambassadors - uniform/training
25. CCTV - surface car parks
26. Public conveniences
27. Branding
28. Signage - safer/CCTV
29. Sunday cleaning
30. Cruise ships
31. Retail radios
32. Play Area - New George Street
33. Entertainment
34. Retailers recycling
35. Short stay car parking
36. Retail crime awareness
37. Newsletter
38. Graffiti and flyposting
39. Floral/shrub displays
40. Pedestrian signage
41. Lighting - surface car parks
42. Canopy
43. Shoppers bus
44. Bedford way
45. Cleanliness monitoring
46. Retail investment pack
47. Public crime awareness
48. Railway shopping promotions
49. Public art
50. Mechanised sweeper

BIDs vote March 2005

A draft BID business plan has now been completed and will be circulated to retailers in August for consultation. Once agreed, the business plan will be finalised in October with a BID ballot planned for March 1 2005. Plymouth will be one of the very first UK cities to establish a BID and has been identified as a model for best practice.

RDA BID funding

The Regional Development Agency have agreed to provide £50,000 fund towards the creation of a BID in Plymouth. The funding will be used to produce a business plan and employ a dedicated project manager.

ID to help retailers through redevelopment

The impact of redevelopment on levels of trade over the next 2 years was identified a clear priority for BID. The phasing of projects is now being looked at to deliver a major marketing budget in the first 2 years of the BID to drive footfall.

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