Businesses in Liverpool have backed an expanded BID area, powering a £7m investment in the city centre, with a core focus on improving the public realm, making it a welcoming city for both businesses and visitors. The BID is currently on its third term after the successful ballot for the new Culture & Commerce BID, with 79% voting in favour, and 84% by rateable value.
The five year business plan sees the Culture & Commerce BID adding areas along the Waterfront and St George’s Quarter to the existing BID in the Commercial District, working alongside the sister BID, Retail & Leisure BID, in the city centre.
The £1.2m investment each year will deliver:
A Public Realm Fund will improve the city centre and focus on the city’s squares, including revitalising and enhancing Derby Square, St John’s Gardens and other civic squares in the city centre
Helping to make Liverpool more resilient by creating a Subvention Fund to attract conferences and business events and representing the city at global forums, including the Global Business District Innovation Club
Improving the city centre’s connectivity, including improving pedestrian access and connectivity for those on foot
Working with Merseyrail and bus providers to improve the gateway access to the city centre
Celebrating the ‘Pool of Life’ across Whitechapel as the key connecting route from William Brown Street to Royal Albert Dock, providing a focus for a creative heritage of the city
Continuing to lead on Christmas decorations and seasonal animation with local producers, artists and creatives
Extending the successful BID Police Team and BID Street Rangers to make the city centre safe, clean and welcoming
Bill Addy is the CEO of Liverpool BID Company
“This successful ballot represents a huge endorsement of the work Liverpool BID Company has done in the city centre over the past 16 years. Liverpool city centre has transformed, and our work moving forward is to help support the city centre in its continued growth. We have much to do, focusing on recovery from the pandemic and ensuring the city centre has a voice and a champion that makes it a place to work, live, visit and thrive. This expanded BID Area will help us to deliver a cohesive offer, taking much needed pressure off the public purse and helping the businesses of Liverpool, from the smallest independent to the largest multinational, steer a course to recovery.
How we use city centres is going to change but what has helped Liverpool weather storms is to make bold decisions and be at the forefront of adaptation and evolution.”
Julie Johnson, Chair of the Commercial District BID
“The past year has shown us the importance of working together and this plan for the future aims to support more and more businesses as Liverpool recovers. We want to build a better city for the future, and that includes our environmental commitment and working towards net carbon zero. By investing in our public realm and connectivity we make Liverpool a more walkable, accessible and engaging city. That isn’t just good for business, it helps make the city healthier for everyone. The wellbeing of our Levy Payers, and everyone who works for a business in the BID is of vital importance to us. We will be focused on both equality and diversity both at BID and within the city’s business community. Culture & Commerce are twin pillars of Liverpool’s strength, both at home and abroad and by uniting them in this expanded BID Area we put the front and centre of our work to help the city recover”.
The new Culture & Commerce BID is welcomed by business and cultural leaders in the city.
Laura Pye is Director of National Museums Liverpool
“Liverpool’s cultural offer is central to its economy and ensuring we have an environment to attract visitors and give them a warm welcome is incredibly important to us at National Museums Liverpool. We look forward to working with Liverpool BID Company in the new Culture & Commerce BID”
Sean Keyes is Managing Director of Sutcliffe
“Championing and protecting thousands of businesses and continuing to invest in the city throughout the last 12 months, Liverpool BID Company’s work has been crucial throughout the pandemic. As we now look towards a post-pandemic world, the new Culture & Commerce BID will be incredibly important as we aim to bounce back and attract locals, tourists and businesses into the city centre. I have backed BID since its formation in 2005 and continue to do so in its next five years of work”
Faye Dyer, managing director of The ACC Liverpool Group – operator of ACC Liverpool, Exhibition Centre Liverpool and the M&S Bank Arena – said: “The return of events and promoting Liverpool as a business destination is key to the recovery of the City Region. “The creation of a new Subvention Fund will enable the city to continue to pitch for major events, attract business and generate investment which will drive wider economic benefit. This now, more than ever, is crucial to the region’s revival.”
