Trust prepares to launch quest for Jewellery Quarter BID

A UNIQUE partnership is being launched in Birmingham to drive forward plans to turn one of the city’s most historic areas into a new Business Improvement District (BID).

The Jewellery Quarter Development Trust (JQDT) will be revealing its plans at a launch event at the School of Jewellery in Vittoria Street tomorrow.

The partnership consists of local businesses, residents, community groups and representatives of Birmingham City Council and the intention is to make the quarter a better place to live, work, visit and invest in.

Trust members comprise representatives of the Jewellery Quarter Association, Jewellery Quarter Neighbourhood Forum, Jewellery Quarter Marketing Initiative and the Jewellery Quarter Trade Alliance.

Should the plan be approved, the Jewellery Quarter would join the city’s four other BIDs – Colmore Business District, Retail Birmingham, Broad Street and Southside – in benefiting from measures such as better lighting, street wardens, new signage, easier accessibility and higher quality surroundings.

Measures are funded by a small levy on the rates but in order to have the scheme adopted officially, a ballot has to be conducted which has to show majority support for the BID.

Many of the proposals are set out in the Jewellery Quarter Regeneration Plan, which is to be co-signed by the development trust and the city council’s cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr Tim Huxtable.

David Mahony, chair of the JQDT, said: “Despite being a unique part of Birmingham, the Jewellery Quarter has missed out on a lot and, in part, this is because it has undoubtedly lacked the same level of public sector investment as Eastside and the city centre.

“We are confident that a successful BID will readdress this imbalance. It will not only give us a strategic voice in the city but it should also raise around £400,000 per annum to address the improvements needed in the Jewellery Quarter. Decisions on those priorities will be made by the levy payers.”

The Bid Steering Group is also looking for business champions who will help to develop proposals and drum up support in time for a BID ballot next year.

Tomorrow’s event takes place between 4-8pm.