What are BIDs doing for Town Centres in Central and Outer London?

Earlier this year, London Forum organised a very interesting open meeting with members about the state of London’s High Streets and the night-time economy. One of the presenters was from a BID (Business Improvement District), highlighting their work in improving business areas in central London. That raised a question, what are BIDs doing in outer London?

Once a BID has been voted in by local businesses it is funded by a supplement to the business rates paid in the area. Of the 76 BIDs in London, around half are in central London typically with an income of over £1m pa, though a few have more than £3m. Some of the large town centre BIDs in outer London also have an income of around £1m; but many of the smaller ones operate with around £300k.

But there is more to a BID than just income. They have convening power to create local partnerships and alliances, can secure grants and other funding to spend locally and are able to act fast.

BIDs across inner and outer London are effectively doing the same range of things for their high streets, boosting footfall and transforming town centres into vibrant hubs with public realm upgrades, increased security, cultural events, shared services, training and more.

Let’s take a closer look at what is happening.

Transforming the Public Realm

London’s high streets are no longer just places to shop; they are shared community spaces. BIDs have revolutionized the urban environment by transforming concrete-heavy streets into pedestrian-friendly, green, and inviting zones that encourage people to linger and so support local traders.

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  Newcomen Garden: Team London Bridge BID

  Central London example – Team London Bridge has been instrumental in reshaping the area around London Bridge station, spearheading the creation of Low Line green spaces, pocket parks, and improved walking routes. Their investments turn overlooked urban corners into vibrant community assets.
• Outer London example – Kingston First in South West London has funded wayfinding solutions, public art installations and floral displays and has helped cement Kingston’s reputation as a premier retail and leisure hub.

Enhancing Safety and Security

A safe and welcoming high street is critical to drawing visitors and retaining employees. BIDs frequently supplement standard local authority policing and street cleaning to create a more secure and pristine trading environment.

• Central London example – Camden Town Unlimited (CTU) launched targeted initiatives to combat anti-social behaviour and street crime. CTU introduced the Safer Camden Business Partnership, deploying street wardens and fostering direct intelligence-sharing between the police, local businesses, and the council.
• Outer London example – Croydon’s BID has been a leading force in addressing local crime and anti-social behaviour in South London. It has funded enforcement officers and tackled illegal e-bikes and e-scooters to make the town centre a safer and more welcoming environment for families and shoppers.

Cultural Programming and Destination Branding

To compete with e-commerce, high streets must offer unique, experiential, and memorable visits. BIDs achieve this through targeted marketing campaigns, art installations, and community events that establish their districts as distinct lifestyle destinations.

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  Victoria BID

  Central London example – Victoria BID To celebrate the area’s rich history and boost weekend footfall, the BID regularly funds large-scale, open-air cultural events, local food markets, and seasonal light trails, turning the district into a 7-day-a-week destination.
• Outer London example – Make It Ealing This BID in West London regularly hosts seasonal markets, outdoor film screenings and family-friendly festivals which increase footfall and turn the high street into a social hub, directly benefiting surrounding cafes, restaurants and independent retailers.

Sustainability and Environmental Initiatives

As London drives toward net-zero targets, BIDs are playing an essential role in greening the high street. These initiatives range from reducing carbon emissions and waste to improving local air quality.

• Central London example – Baker Street Quarter Partnership This BID introduced innovative cargo-bike delivery schemes to reduce freight traffic and improve local air quality. They have also heavily invested in green infrastructure, introducing parklets, living walls, and extensive tree planting to soften the streetscape.

• Outer London example – London Riverside BID in Rainham in East London has transformed neglected industrial plots along the Thames into accessible green spaces, has planted trees and hedgerows and was involved in creating eco-friendly rest areas for local workers and walkers.

Supporting local businesses

By pooling resources and using collective purchasing power, BIDs offer significant operational advantages to local businesses, especially small businesses. From securing bulk discounts on waste management and security to offering specialized training, BIDs directly bolster the bottom line of high street businesses.

• Central London example – Better Bankside on the South bank of the Thames supports local businesses with a discount card (with special offers), digital marketing, wellbeing and skills training and free events, including mental health first aid, sustainability toolkits designed to help SMEs reduce their carbon footprint, emergency support and business continuity advice.
• Outer London Example – Ilford BID in East London has delivered a variety of promotional drives, including local discount campaigns and independent business spotlights. By giving smaller traders a unified voice and marketing platform, the BID helps to sustain the unique, multicultural character of the town centre.

By taking a holistic, business-led approach, BIDs have become effective catalysts for London’s high streets. Rather than relying solely on council budgets, the BIDs use their funding to mobilise additional grants for local investment to ensure high streets remain resilient, clean, safe, and culturally rich in an ever-evolving economy.

BID spending additional to baseline Council services

BIDs’ activities are intended to be additional to normal local services. That is enshrined in law: Councils must maintain their baseline services even where a BID is operating. But there is a worry that the provision of local services through BID funding may simply lead to reduced Council provision.

As time goes on, and as local authority spending comes under increasing pressure from social care and education needs, it becomes ever more likely that other Council services will suffer. It is easy to imagine how that might happen. It may be difficult to maintain a clear sense of what the baseline was. Councils may be tempted to allow budgets to erode, knowing that there is another body that can take up any slack in street cleaning, maintenance of green spaces or security.

Overall, though, the feeling is that BIDs do well for their areas, as witnessed by the five-yearly vote by local businesses to continue funding them. Only one BID out of London’s 76 has failed in its renewal ballot, a very encouraging statistic.

Clare Birks
Secretary, London Forum