Bradford BID to reveal £2.5m city centre improvement plan

A STRATEGY for up to £2.5 million of improvements to the city centre will be revealed at the launch of Bradford BID’s new five-year business plan next week.

The Business Improvement District’s first term will come to an end later this year and the organisation will launch a ballot at the end of August to secure a second five years.  Almost 600 levy-paying businesses and organisations will be asked to support the BID in the ballot, which if successful will see the organisation run until the end of 2028.  The results are set to be announced at the end of September.

The BID is a limited not-for-profit company funded by a small levy on businesses and organisations, and the money it raises is used for projects to help promote and develop the city centre.

Ian Ward, general manager of The Broadway shopping centre and chairman of the BID, said: “The BID and its hard-working team have achieved an astonishing amount over our first term to date and have quickly gained a reputation as one of the best organised and most effective business improvement districts in the country.  We have smartened up the city centre, helped improve safety, boosted footfall, generated trade through events and promotion, supported – and provided a voice for – businesses and lobbied local, regional and national authorities for improvements.  But we believe the work has only just started and there is so much more to come,” he added.

An independent survey of city centre businesses found that 89 per cent of those responding agreed the BID had “made an impact” and 94 per cent said that a second term would “benefit the city centre”.

The BID’s objectives for the second term will focus on creating a positive environment, making the city centre a better place to do business and generating a vibrant experience for all those who live, work, visit and enjoy their leisure time there.

A £2.5m business plan launch will take place on Thursday, July 6, at The Light Cinema.

BID manager Jonny Noble said the work of the BID will play a “crucial role” in preparing the city centre for its year in the spotlight as UK City of Culture 2025.  “It’s vital that we’re there to help the city centre, its retailers, its hospitality venues, its leisure attractions and the people who live and work here to make the most of the opportunity City of Culture provides, along with the other major developments that will be coming on stream.”