Limavady could be a ‘Business Improvement District’

Legislation to allow for the creation of statutory Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in Northern Ireland was introduced before the summer recess at Stormont.

A Business Improvement District is a defined local area where, in partnership with the local council, businesses agree to pay a levy in order to fund services that will benefit the trading environment within that area. This gives local businesses the power to effect changes that will benefit them uniquely. Improvements may include additional safety / security, street cleaning, environmental initiatives or marketing events, among others. The idea has been put out to public consultation, with Limavady’s elected representatives asked to discuss the issue at a council meeting scheduled for last night. Under the proposed legislation, the entire town centre in Limavady would be put forward as a ‘business improvement district.’

In a monthly report presented to councillors ahead of the meeting scheduled for last night, Director of Development Valerie Richmond explained: “This latest consultation is around the issue of formally developing a legislative framework. Members should note that given the size of the retail centres in this Borough, it would be proposed that the whole centre – for example, all of Limavady Town centre, or all of Dungiven centre, would be proposed as a BIDS district. This would differ from larger towns – eg, solely Waterside or Railway Road in Coleraine.”

Under the proposals, businesses would be able to prioritise the work that needs to be done to make their area more appealing, to put together a costed plan for this work and to vote on whether it should be implemented. These services would be in addition to what is already provided from the public purse.