Businesses across Bracknell’s Southern and Western Business Areas have voted in favour of renewing their status as a Business Improvement District (BID) – securing £3.5 million to be spent on continuing to improve the trading environment and represent business interests over the next five years.
This positive result follows many months of planning, in-depth interviews, surveys and a month-long ballot in which businesses in the BID area were asked to vote on the proposals.
85% of votes cast voted in favour of the BID Renewal Ballot by total number of businesses, and 87% of votes cast voted in favour of the BID by Rateable Value. This is an even better result than the previous ballot in 2019.
The BID has provided a range of support to businesses over the last five years. This has included environmental improvements to the area including landscaping, planters, increased lighting, litter cleansing and a mural, improving access to the area including new wayfinding signage, a BID funded shuttle bus and shared cycle scheme and benefits and events for those working in the BID area including weekly fitness bootcamp sessions, business support webinars, BID loyalty card, jobs fair and ‘Meet Your Neighbour’ events.
As a result of the yes vote, the renewal of Bracknell BID will commence on the 1st April 2025 and businesses with a rateable value of £12,001 or above will pay a levy based upon their rateable value, creating a collective fund of more than £3.5 million to spend over the next five years.
The plans were spearheaded and driven by the Board of business representatives from across the BID area, supported by pfbb UK, who develop and deliver Business Improvement Districts across the country.
Speaking about the ‘Yes’ vote, Chair of the BID Maria Sabey, said: “This is fantastic news for Bracknell BIDand a huge congratulations must go to all the businesses which rallied and joined forces to ensure we secured a yes vote in our renewal ballot. Thanks must go to all those businesses that engaged in the process by sharing their ideas and opinions on how we can work together to improve the area and who, ultimately, voted in favour of the plans to support each other in these challenging and uncertain times”.
“The BID’s business plan, which businesses were being asked to vote on, has been designed to address the issues which came up during the lengthy consultations with many of the businesses in the BID area, from the small independent businesses to large national and international businesses.”
“The money will now be spent through the two key strategic objectives and their related activities.”
The project team are now looking forward to delivering another five years of initiatives that benefit the levy paying businesses in the area.