Towns chief backing plans for city business improvement district

SUMMIT: Dundee hosted BID leaders from across Scotland

The chief officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership has backed proposals to develop a Business Improvement District (BID) in Dundee at a summit in the city this week.

Leaders from Business Improvement Districts across Scotland’s main cities gathered to discuss the direction of BIDs across the country.

BIDs are a collaborative business improvement model where local businesses come together to invest in joint projects and initiatives aimed at improving the local economy and community for the benefit for all.

The return on investment is realised through more economic activity and better business outcomes.

The investment, over and above that provided by local and national government, is collected through an additional levy on local business rates.

Phil Prentice, chief officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership and programme director of Scotland’s Improvement Districts, said: “Meeting in Dundee is an important boost for the case to establish an improvement district here.

“We’ve been working for the last nine months with the Dundee V&A team, DD1 Business Forum and the City Council to see where a Dundee City BID could support the wider aspirations for Dundee around its universities, innovation and tourism.

“The evidence shows that BIDs work elsewhere in Scotland, they can do so for Dundee.”

Previous BID proposals in the city have failed to gain traction.

“BIDs work elsewhere in Scotland, they can do so for Dundee. PHIL PRENTICE, CHIEF OFFICER, SCOTLAND’S TOWNS PARTNERSHIP

Picture: Kim Cessford. A summit this week heard that a Business Improvement District has the potential to be a success in Dundee.