Colmore BID team unveil second term business plan
THE team behind Birmingham’s Colmore Business Improvement District has set out its proposed business plan for a second BID term and is asking its members for feedback on the scheme.
Colmore Business District launched in April 2009 for a five-year term as a BID for the commercial quarter of Birmingham city centre. In that time it has funded Street Wardens to help make the area safer, undertaken regular deep cleansing of pavements and thrown large-scale events such as its flagship CBD Food Festival to draw in custom to the hospitality and retail venues in the district.
It also undertook the Church Street Square project, which transformed an under-utilised section of road into a new public space. The project was a finalist in this year’s national Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation awards. The scheme was billed alongside other high-profile public realm projects such as the City of London’s Cheapside and the regeneration of Oxford Street in the capital.
Mike Best, deputy chair of CBD, said: “We have achieved a tremendous amount in the first BID term which has made a noticeable difference to the area. However it is vitally important for us to talk to our BID levy members to get their feedback to ensure we are undertaking the type of activity which matters to them.
“This business plan for our second five-year BID term lays out an exciting programme of further activity which is over and above the baseline services that Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police provide. We have exciting plans ahead, such as the redevelopment of Snow Hill Gateway – the square in front of Snow Hill Station – so we urge our members to back us for another five years.”
A full version of the proposed BID2 business plan is available from www.colmorebusinessdistrict.com. Members have until July 17 to feed back on the proposals.
