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Stockport’s Business Improvement District (BID) company’s ambition to deliver a second BID and £2.4 million plan of investment has won overwhelming support from town centre businesses.
Declared this morning by Deputy Counting Officer Vicki Bates from Stockport Council, Stockport’s BID – Totally Stockport – secured a massive 89.6% yes votes and a huge 97% based on rateable value of votes cast by hereditaments.
Following publication of a carefully considered Business Plan outlining Totally Stockport’s strategy, town centre businesses have voted for a second Business Improvement District to run for a new five-year term from 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2027.
Since 2017, Stockport’s current BID team have been working on projects that improve the overall visitor experience and generate additional footfall in the town centre, increasing opportunities for all businesses within the BID’s designated area. The current BID term ends on 31st March 2022. During the term of the new BID, Stockport’s BID team will focus on projects and initiatives that will see a rejuvenated town centre better equipped to thrive in a more digitised economy.
Priority projects included within the new Business Plan will:
- deliver increased footfall by improving the experience
- encourage new business through a preferential loan scheme
- curate and manage outstanding quality events to attract new and returning visitors
- create a more vibrant town centre to stimulate greater dwell time
- improve public areas and the aesthetics of the town centre
- encourage more people to make Stockport town centre a destination of choice by supporting businesses to improve customer service
As town centre living will play an increasingly important part in ensuring its future, Stockport’s BID company will work with partners to ensure that diverse needs are catered for, providing greater choice to improve the overall experience.
Chair of Stockport Business Improvement District, Mike Lamont, is thrilled that BID levy paying businesses have voted in favour of a second BID having experienced for themselves the positive impact the BID has had over the past 5 years and explains why a new approach is needed to deliver the new 5-year flexible Business Plan:
“The whole team have worked tirelessly over the past 5 years to provide opportunities for town centre businesses to develop and thrive and improve the experience for everyone. It’s fantastic to see that hard work recognised in the ballot box.
“Since Covid arrived in March last year, we have witnessed rapid, unprecedented change in how we exist, both in our personal and our working lives, with some plans accelerated by at least 5 years. While the new BID Business Plan sets out our five-year strategy driven by consumer and business demand, it is flexible and nimble enough to swiftly respond to changing circumstances.
“Over the course of our new term of office, we will concentrate on supporting our BID-levy paying business with initiatives that drive increased trading opportunities; encourage greater footfall through an exciting calendar of events; promote the town centre across multiple media channels and work closely with partners to ensure Stockport attracts residents, businesses, tourists and visitors and is the destination of choice for everyone.”
Stockport Council’s radical approach to creating a town centre fit for the future is well underway including its £1 billion regeneration plan for the town, already attracting new investment. As a result of this success, new businesses will be included in a slightly extended BID area from April 2022.