Retailers in Bristol’s Broadmead shopping centre have voted in favour of a Business Improvement District (BID) scheme for a third time.
Nearly three quarters of Broadmead businesses taking part in the ballot, including those in The Galleries shopping mall, approved the BID, which means paying an extra levy on top of their business rates to fund improvements area such as better street furniture and signs, improved cleaning, marketing campaigns and Christmas lights. 
The original BID vote – one of the first in the UK – took place in 2005. At the time Bristol had a poor reputation as a shopping destination, ranked as low as 30 in the UK retail league table despite being a top 10 city in terms of population.
Since then improvements paid for by the BID levy and the opening of nearby Cabot Circus has improved Bristol retail image.
Under the BID retailers pay an extra 1.5% on top of their rates (0.75% for those in the Galleries shopping centre).
More than half the votes, based on the number of stores and their rateable values, needed to be in favour of the new BID for it to take effect. The votes were 73% and 72% respectively.
BID manager Jo Hawkins said: “I would like to thank all of you who supported us and we look forward to working with retailers to deliver a third successful BID.”
The ‘yes’ campaign was backed by major retailers such as Marks & Spencer, smaller businesses and Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson.
The new BID takes effect today and runs for a five years.
