Business Improvement Districts started in nineteen-sixties Canada & the U.S.A.. As an attempt to arrest and reverse urban decay. Following a series of riots and a general decline in inner city areas.

Businesses got together and decided on a co-operative solution to problems. This has been likened to a shopping mall, where traders pay into a general fund to keep the entire building clean, bright and attractive. Thus encouraging customers, to the benefit of all.

This is of course a poor simile in most cases, shopping mall traders are generally all retail and have a common landlord. But it does give some idea of the thinking behind Business Improvement Districts.

Most Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are established in city centres or similar retail trading areas. In America they are credited with considerable success, stopping and reversing the decline of many central urban environments.

As with many ideas from America, BIDs have been widely copied in a number of countries, with varying degrees of success. Eventually finding their way to Britain, as we all now know only too well.

The model chosen for this country, then hurriedly set up by statute, is close to the American model. As this country is culturally different to the U.S.A., this model may be considered a poor choice. This will be covered under 'principles'.

This is just the start of this page, more will be written on the principles behind BIDs as time permits...

Anyone who wishes to contribute content is welcome to contact us.

To set up a Business Improvement District in England, a process set out in " The Business Improvement Districts (England) Regulations 2004 " must be adhered to. This Statutory Instrument establishes a framework for discussion, consultation, balloting, and setting up of a BID.

These Regulations can be found, read and downloaded from a Government site. Please click on this paragraph.
Alternatively it is also available for download from our site. In either case, please honour the Crown Copyright notice.

More to be written...