Sutton Coldfield Town Centre BID begun its third term, with a focus on ‘investing in Sutton’ and working to deliver the Masterplan with Birmingham City Council and Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council.

Businesses across Sutton Coldfield Town Centre voted in favour of renewing their status as a Business Improvement District (BID). 

Businesses with a rateable value of £7,500 or above will pay a levy based upon their rateable value, creating a collective fund of more than £1.3 million to spend over the next five years.

This positive result during November followed several months of planning, in-depth interviews, surveys and a month-long ballot in which hundreds of businesses in the area were asked to vote on the proposals.

The successful campaign was spearheaded and driven by the BID’s board of business representatives from across the town, supported by pfbb UK, who develop and deliver Business Improvement Districts across the country.

Angela Henderson, manager of the Gracechurch Shopping Centre and chair of the BID, said: “We will be working with SCTC BID to help to promote the Masterplan over the next few years.  We are currently going through a period of change like many towns, but we still regard Sutton Coldfield as a strong diverse town with a strong business community and a loyal customer base.

“The BID will be the voice of business lobbying on topics which affect businesses. 

“The overall aim will be to ensure that businesses are listened to and promoted alongside ensuring the town remains relevant and flexible in an ever-changing environment. We look forward to keeping businesses up to date on what is happening during each step of the Masterplan.”

Councillor Simon Ward, leader of Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council and chairman of the Town Centre Regeneration Partnership, said: “It’s now time to collectively look to the future of the town, as we embark upon the next stages of the ambitious regeneration of our Town Centre, working with the BID as a key partner. 

“The BID plays such an important role with both its practical support for businesses but also as an authoritative voice for business locally.  The Town Council values its partnership with the BID not only on the Masterplan, but across so many other important projects.”

The BID’s business plan:

• Objective 1 - to create a vibrant town centre with a unique sense of identity and promote its business, cultural and leisure offer locally and regionally.
• Objective 2 - to enable visitors and people working in the town centre to have a positive experience and feel safe, secure and comfortable.
• Objective 3 - to encourage growth, development and investment of businesses which complement and build on the strengths of Sutton Coldfield.

Pictured: Cllr Simon Ward with Town Councillor and BID board member Cllr Keith Ward