Business Improvement District set for York city centre

Businesses in York have now voted in favour of turning the city centre into a Business Improvement District (BID).

Therefore, a not-for-profit BID company will now be formed to carry out a wide range of improvements and services from April next year, with almost 900 firms contributing to an annual budget of more than £800k.

The Business Improvement District for York won the vote following a higher than average turnout of 42% of York city centre businesses, with 76% voting to yes.

Money to fund the BID will be raised by charging a 1% levy on the rateable value of each business premise in the city centre.

Adam Sinclair, York BID chairman, and Managing Director of the Mulberry Hall fine china store in Stonegate, said: “I am delighted so many businesses and professions have voted to back our proposal. This gives the York BID a clear mandate to make improvements to York city centre over the next five years.

“We will now respond to our members and focus on street cleaning, rubbish collection, safety, the public realm, car parking, Christmas lights, street events and the evening economy. York city centre is ambitious but needs to inspire and satisfy its marketplace and thereby attract fresh investment.”

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