News / bristol bid
Bristol businesses vote for a unified business improvement district
After months of consultation on a unified Business Improvement District (BID), businesses have voted a resounding ‘Yes’ to the proposal.
The consultation, which began in March, unveiled what the future could look like for the businesses of the three existing BIDs, and for the city as a whole.
Around 1,000 businesses across the City Centre, Redcliffe & Temple, and Broadmead BIDs have given a clear mandate for unification, with 75 per cent voting in favour and 85 per cent by rateable value, reflecting shared benefits and strong relevance to local stakeholders.
The unified BID structure will come into effect on November 1, following a short transition period.
The three existing BIDs of City Centre, Redcliffe & Temple and Broadmead will operate as a unified BID from November 2025 – photo: Plaster
Under the new combined strategy, around £18m will be invested over five years across key areas, from improving the city’s cleanliness to enhancing its cultural offer to help drive business footfall.
Steve Bluff, director of Redcliffe & Temple BID and lead for the new Bristol BID, welcomed the result as a “defining moment for the city”.
He said: “It’s not every day a city centre gets the chance to reset its future. This is a business-led vision that puts local voices at the heart of shaping Bristol’s next chapter. The YES vote is more than an endorsement of a plan – it’s a clear commitment to collaboration, innovation and raising our collective ambition.”
Some existing programmes which have performed well such as Bristol Light Festival will receive further support to enhance its impact under the unified BID – photo: Rob Browne
The BID team, made up of experienced professionals with a broader vision for the city, will now operate under a collective umbrella with streamlined BID operation, which is expected to deliver £500,000 in savings to be reinvested back into the city.
Under the city’s four-fold investment strategy – Clean & Welcoming Environment, Safe & Supported Communities, Experiences & Promotion, and Sustainable & Green – £4m will be spent on sprucing up the city and enhancing its welcome. A further £5.7m will go towards strengthening Bristol’s cultural offerings.
Some of the city’s most successful programmes, such as the Bristol Light Festival, Harbour Festival and the work of Night Pastors and PCSOs, will also receive additional support to build on their impact.
An investment package worth £5.7m is earmarked to enhance Bristol’s cultural offerings such as the Harbour Festival – photo: Plaster
Jon Bower, partner at Womble Bond Dickinson and current chair of the Redcliffe & Temple BID advisory board, said: “This is a transformative step that brings greater efficiency, investment, transparency and impact for all sectors of the city centre.
“We now have a structure that allows us to do more, act faster and speak with one united voice, bringing business communities together across the city centre.
In March, the leaders of the three existing BIDs unveiled the plans for a unified BID vision – photo: Julian Preece
The leaders of the Bristol BID believe that the ‘Yes’ vote for unified strategy of covering businesses from Park Street to Temple Meads and Cabot Circus to Queen’s Square can lead to a bold and business-led model for the city.
Main photo: Julian Preece
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