Business Improvement Districts (BIDs)

Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are partnerships between local authorities and local businesses which are intended to provide additional services or improvements to a specified area. A BID must be agreed by ballot and is funded in whole or in part by a levy on those liable for non-domestic rates. This is sometimes linked to, but usually collected separately from, their business rate liability, and non-payment of the levy is subject to similar remedial action by the billing body.

This briefing paper sets out the working of Business Improvements Districts in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It provides details of the legal framework for BIDs, with recent statistics and developments.