LeedsBID reveals £14m vision for city's economy over next five years

Leeds Business Improvement District (LeedsBID) unveiled its five-year Business Plan for Leeds city centre today (September 10).

To an audience of over 300 key business representatives at the City Varieties Music Hall, ‘LeedsBID: The Next Chapter’ has set out the organisation’s priorities for term two - due to run from 2020 to 2025.

The Business Plan has been developed after a consultation with LeedsBID’s levy payers regarding what the next chapter of LeedsBID should look like. Familiar projects - like Welcome Ambassadors and Street Rangers - will continue to be delivered for the city.

Speaking at the event, Andrew Cooper revealed aspirations to grow LeedsBID, through the consideration of a waterfront Business Improvement District to the south of the river. The Southbank regeneration area is said to be of considerable importance to the city.

Andrew Cooper speaking at today’s event for LeedsBID.

Commenting on the plans, LeedsBID’s chief executive, Andrew Cooper, said: “Today’s event marks the first step on our journey towards a second term for LeedsBID.

“Over the past five years, we’ve worked closely with our levy payers and partners to introduce a diverse range of innovative, exciting and much-needed projects and initiatives to put Leeds firmly on the map and improve the city centre.

“Those who come to the city to live, work and thrive have hopefully gained enormous pleasure and benefitted from our activity, which is only achievable through working together with businesses, organisations and individuals across the city.”

He added: “This October, levy payers will be asked to vote to endorse and continue the work of LeedsBID for the next five years, and we believe that today has helped make the case for what can be achieved with ambition.”

Leeds city centre has evolved in recent years, with new shopping centres, independent sites and venues opening.

Levy payers with a rateable value of £60k pay a small percentage to contribute to the work of LeedsBID, which helps to improve the city centre, and drive footfall. Levy payers will have the opportunity to vote on Term Two from October 10 to November 7, 2019.

Prew Lumley, partner at Squire Patton Boggs and LeedsBID chair, concluded: “Our levy payers have played an integral role in helping shape the past five years so it’s only right that city centre businesses are the first to engage with plans for the next five.

“LeedsBID’s successes to date should be celebrated, but the Term Two Business Plan really takes things to the next level. It was brilliant to see so many familiar faces in the room and engaging with helping to shape our city’s future.”