Renewal
Ballot

Announcement of Results

Local businesses in Cheapside have voted overwhelmingly in favour of renewing the City of London’s first Business Improvement District (BID) – the Cheapside Business Alliance (CBA) – for a second five year term.

The successful ballot result announced today (Friday 14 February) means the CBA will be able to deliver a variety of strategic and operational improvements in the area around Cheapside.

Of those businesses that voted, 94% voted ‘yes’ at the ballot (95% by rateable value).

The ballot result is a strong endorsement of the achievements of the CBA under its first five year term, after it was initially established in 2015, and also a show of support for increased public / private collaboration across the City of London.

The BID team, led by specialist regeneration consultancy Primera Corporation, will work with the City Corporation and other partners to deliver the ambitious business plan that was published in advance of the ballot being held.

The BID’s work will continue to enhance the area’s important position in the heart of the City’s economic powerhouse and its growing reputation as a 24/7 leisure and retail hot spot. Approximately £2.5 million will be invested into the area over the BID’s second term.

The City of London is expected to see significant growth in the coming years, with a growing working population and more leisure visitors. While there is significant opportunity in this growth, there are some substantial challenges with issues such as traffic congestion, air pollution, and a squeezed public realm coming to the fore. The City of London Corporation sees BIDs as a key vehicle for engaging with communities to promote ongoing regeneration of areas and harnessing opportunities to the maximum.

Alongside the CBA, the City is now home to a second BID with another successful ballot announcement today for the Aldgate Connect BID. Alongside these BIDs, the City Corporation is also backing two innovative business partnerships (pre-cursors to BIDs) in the Eastern City Cluster and Fleet Street.

There is growing acknowledgement that all areas in the capital are raising their game, no matter how well known or iconic. The drive to compete for the best talent, a rightful share of the tourist market and entice domestic visitors has never been more important.

Ruth Duston OBE OC, MD of Primera Corporation – Executive Director of the CBA said:

“BIDs in the capital are a powerful and strategic force for good. From transformational public realm projects, to supporting small businesses and making areas safer, cleaner and more pleasant places to visit or work, BIDs have a proven track record for driving change and innovation. This positive result means that the opportunity for Cheapside is significant, giving the private sector a real say in the future evolution of this fantastic location.”

There are now more than 60 BIDs operating in central London. Not only providing important operational functions such as cleaning and greening, BIDs are increasingly seen as strategic partners to the public sector, providing vital ‘added value’ in districts across the capital and working hand in hand with the public sector bodies such as TfL, local councils and the GLA. Importantly, they give a voice to business communities and are able to lobby on big issues impacting on businesses.

Renewal Ballot

The Cheapside Business Alliance (CBA) launched in 2015, as the first Business Improvement District or ‘BID’ in the City of London. The CBAs aim is to ensure that Cheapside continues to grow, economically, sustainably and as a key destination in the capital, and over the past term the CBA has demonstrated the fantastic work can be achieved through partnership and collaboration.

As BIDs have a lifespan of 5-year terms, the CBA will invite businesses to vote on the CBAs plans for the second term in early 2020.

Reflecting on the first term, the CBA had many successes and achievements, working in close partnership with the City of London Corporation and key stakeholders.

Highlights include working as a key delivery partner for the Plastic Free City Campaign which to encourage changed behaviours to reduce the use of single use plastics. Also, the Greening Cheapside Project, working closely with CoL to enhance the public space by St Paul’s tube station, improving the ease of movement and introducing sustainable planting.

Our Ambassadors provide a warm welcome to Cheapside and act as the eyes and ears, working with the CBA team on many large events such as the historic Lord Mayor’s Show. In the first term over 250 local people were placed into vacancies within the footprint through our commissioned provider. Our Food and Drink Week was a great success, showcasing the culinary offering within the footprint, and attracting a diverse audience into the area, as well as City workers.

Championing businesses is at the heart of the business alliance and through highly popular networking events forging connections between local businesses and thus maximising opportunities for collaboration.

The CBA has a lot to be proud of reflecting on the past 5 years, but there is more that we want to achieve for the area. The ambitions for the next 5-year term have been set out in the Business Plan 2020-2025 keen to sustain the momentum of the first term and embrace opportunities going forward.