Huddersfield businesses encouraged to back Business Improvement District (BID)

A steering group formed with the aim of developing a Business Improvement District (BID) in Huddersfield town centre is looking ahead to a potential vote on the proposal within the next six months.

Daniel Krigers – a Partner and Head of Employment with Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors – has been heavily involved in the group’s activity to date, whilst the Firm has offered its office space for regular meetings.

There are over 300 BIDs in the UK now and over 100 of these have been renewed after the initial term with more than 30 being in their third five year term. In simple terms, a BID allows rate-paying businesses within the designated town centre to decide on new improvements to help transform that area – and then vote to agree the investment. This money is then ring-fenced to provide the improvements agreed through the BID strategy.

A significant amount of work has been undertaken over the past year in surveying hundreds of businesses, gaining insight into their priorities for the town centre. The focus in the coming months will be on the organisation of workshops, finalisation of the town centre boundary, communication of the survey findings and preparation for a vote on whether to create a BID in the town.

Daniel commented: “With so many success stories across the country, the idea of a BID to help revitalise the town centre should be seen as an extremely positive proposal. The idea is for BIDs to be designed by businesses and ultimately controlled by them, with funding being allocated for projects that really matter to the majority.

“Chadwick Lawrence – as a legal practice and a longstanding member of the community – sees immediate benefits through attracting more people into the town centre and working more collaboratively with others in the area. Our survey results tell us that it is crucial we develop a consistent identity and brand, that we improve the appearance of the environment and that we make our town centre safer and more accessible. If the BID is voted in, we will have a fund essentially dedicated to meeting these objectives.

On a personal level, I live in Huddersfield and I want to spend time in the town centre. I want to be able to walk through the area and be proud of the surroundings and of the business community we have. And I want to see confidence in other businesses who are considering ventures in the town centre; to do this, there has to be an increase in footfall and in willingness to stay here.”

Whilst a high number of responses to the survey have been received, office and professional services businesses are under-represented. There is still time to take the survey and it can be accessed here on the BID website:

http://huddersfieldbid.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Huddersfield-BID-Survey-ELECTRONIC-Final.pdf.

Whilst the BID steering group is separate from the Council and other initiatives, Daniel is keen to stress that collaboration with other projects is vital going forwards:

“The steering group has welcomed representatives from various other organisations such as Kirklees Council and Huddersfield Unlimited, who have shared their vision and projects. As a result, we see the focus of the BID working perfectly with these groups, complimenting work that is ongoing in wider infrastructure projects, in attracting inward investment and creating a brand of longevity that the people of the town can really get behind”.