What is a Business Improvement District (BID)
Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are clearly defined commercial areas in which additional improvements, enhanced services and management are funded by contributions made by the businesses operating within them.
Although the BID is funded primarily through the levy, it can also draw on other public and private income streams to fund specific schemes and projects. All rate-paying organisations that meet the requirements of the BID levy rules as stipulated by the BID proposer and that fall within the proposed BID footprint can vote in the BID ballot. If the ballot outcome is successful, all organisations in the BID area must pay the BID levy, regardless of how they voted.
There are two types of BIDs - Property Owner BIDs and Occupier BIDs.
An Occupier BID is one that has been formed following a successful ballot outcome involving the rate-paying occupiers of eligible hereditaments within the proposed BID footprint.
Property Owner BIDs are, like occupier-funded BIDs, created through a ballot of those who own a property and will be subject to the Property Owner levy. The key difference is that property owners are not always identified on the National Non-Domestic Rates ratings (NNDR) list.
There are currently 18 BIDs in Westminster.
Please use the map below as a guide to identify if you are within a BID area.