Colmore BID consults members on a third term for Birmingham’s Business District
Colmore BID Business Improvement District has begun consulting more than 500 companies about what it should prioritise for its third five-year term if successfully renewed by ballot later this year.
Colmore Business District is now established as the commercial heart of Birmingham, with over 35,000 employees and more than five million square feet of office space.
The BID was created in 2009 to generate a thriving, nationally-recognised business community around the Colmore Row area of Birmingham city centre with new projects, public realm creation, security and ambassadorial roles, and a programme of events such as the annual Colmore Food Festival.
The BID is now contacting levy payers and hosting informal workshops to refine the ideas and proposals it is putting forward and in October 2018, the BID will be asking businesses to vote ‘yes’ for its third term.
Over the last five years the BID says it has leveraged £10m from an investment of £1.4m in the district’s public ream; an ROI of over 700%.
The BID has held hundreds of events attended by over 1,500 people and Colmore Food Festival, the BID’s showpiece celebration of the best food and drink in the city, attracts 30,000 visitors each year.
Other achievements include a deep clean of over 45,500 sq m of streets in the district – equivalent to more than six football pitches – and 280 floral features across the area. The BID also pays for 100 Christmas decorations each year.
For Colmore BID’s third five-year term it is proposing to collect a levy of 1.5% on business rates. This will generate over £5m of additional, business-led investment into the district. Earlier this year, the boards of both Colmore BID and Paradise also agreed that the landmark new development would join Colmore Business District.
“We’ve been listening to our members on how we can continue to ensure our area is the beating heart of business in Birmingham, and we are proposing to build a better district by extending the planned civilising street programme – to create new places for people to meet and relax,” said Michele Wilby, executive director, Colmore BID.
“We will develop a business-led solution to reducing freight and delivery vehicles entering Colmore Business District and continue to lead on projects such as the Snow Hill Masterplan and influence regeneration plans for the district to ensure strong connections to the HS2 station at Curzon Street.
“We will tackle poorly-maintained pavements with Birmingham City Council, and ensure paving is regularly cleaned and well maintained and support city-wide action on homelessness by backing the West Midlands Mayor’s programme.”
The BID is also proposing to install ‘Parklets’, creating new micro-spaces for people to sit and enjoy and construct a digital screen for Colmore Square, with content produced and curated by BID members.
An expansion of activity dedicated to people working within the district is also being proposed, through physical activity such as running clubs and the community games, social groups such as Colmore Chorus or new urban gardening clubs and wellbeing events including yoga or inspirational after-work talks and discussion groups.
“We will promote the district as an ideal inward investment destination through national and international PR, targeting potential new businesses from existing and new sectors to improve the District’s resilience and attractiveness,” added Wilby.
“As one of the UK’s top Business Improvement Districts, we will be continuing our current work and adding new, ambitious projects to enhance the district.
“This is just a snapshot of Colmore BID’s achievements since 2009, and our ambitions for 2019 onwards.
“Our priorities are to build a better district, deliver great events, engage and grow our community and build a safe and Clean Colmore Business District.”
