St Peters Quarter Business Improvement District To Resume

St Peters Quarter Business Improvement District To Resume

Businesses in Derby’s St Peters Quarter have voted to re-establish the area as a Business Improvement District (BID).

The ballot saw a turnout of 48.4% with 67.4% of votes in favour judged by rateable value and 59.2% were in favour by number.

The ballot was open to businesses occupying or owning premises with a rateable value of £12,000 – reflecting the increase in small business rates relief in the forthcoming financial year – and did not include businesses in the Eagle Market and Theatre Walk given the imminent transfer in ownership of these sites to Intu.

St Peters Quarter BID will commence operations on April 1 with a budget of £1 million over its five year term to assist in the achievement of the four key objectives set out  in the BID’s Business Plan that provide additional benefits to the whole area:

To provide a safe and inviting environment for visitors, workers and residents to enjoy through:

  • Working with the police to ensure an appropriate presence and response to issues that affect businesses in the area
  • A return of the BID uniformed rangers
  • Working with key agencies to ensure the monitoring and coverage of City CCTV cameras at week-ends and seeking to extend this coverage
  • Working with landlords and other agencies to improve access and lighting in areas susceptible to crime and Anti-social Behaviour

To make the area smart and attractive through:

  • Targeted cleaning
  • Working with Landlords and others to improve the look of vacant units
  • Influencing  the usage of Festive and creative lighting as well as street furniture

To create an enjoyable and easily accessible place to explore for visitors, workers and residents

The BID will work with, lobby and influence Derby City Council, the Police and others to improve:

  • parking, traffic flow, cycle routes and pedestrian safety;
  • the management of peddlers, charity collectors and buskers and other traders
  • the pedestrian flow between the different parts of St Peters Quarter through information and signage that encourages people to explore the whole area.

To celebrate and promote the area and build the reputation of St Peters Quarter as  a great place to shop, relax and be entertained

  • The BID will work with businesses and other organisations to provide focused events in specific areas to create an animated feel and develop St Peters Quarter as a vibrant place.
  • The diverse offer of the business sectors in St Peters Quarter and the events will be promoted to visitors and businesses and campaigns will be designed and delivered to focus on the key retail and leisure trading periods.

St Peters Quarter Board Chair Helen Wathall is Managing Director of family-owned funeral directors G Wathall & Son in Macklin Street. 

She said: “I am very relieved and of course delighted that the re-ballot has been successful. We now have the mandate to work together as businesses and with our partners to tackle the issues that we in St Peters Quarter and visitors to the area all face.

“Our fellow businesses have been increasingly worried about the situation in the area since the last BID programme ceased, particularly with increased crime and anti-social behaviour and a distinct lack of cohesion and direction.

“Businesses have engaged enthusiastically in the consultation and planning for the next five years and we are grateful for the time that individuals have devoted and particularly to our project management company Partnerships for Better Business who have coordinated this process.

“Business confidence for the future in the St Peters Quarter BID is strong and this plan provides us with a clear direction and a new exciting era for this important part of the city centre.”

Ms Wathall continued that St Peters Quarter had come a long way during the first BID - despite the impact of the recession and the opening of Intu shopping centre.

“The success and growth of St Peters Quarter is important to the future of Derby’s economy.  The potential changes of the coming years, with increased residential developments and higher footfall in the area, offer huge opportunities.

“Continuing to improve St Peters Quarter and making it a safe, welcoming and attractive area with a diverse offer and a range of entertainment will still require the commitment from all businesses in the area.

“Working together, through the BID, we can now ensure that St Peters Quarter is in the position to reach its full potential and become a thriving area once again.”

Ian Ferguson, Director of BID project managers Partnerships for Better Business (pfbb UK) concluded: “BIDs are the fastest growing partnership framework we have seen for decades in the UK and the success of the neighbouring Cathedral Quarter shows just what can be achieved.

“It is proven that, across the country, businesses situated with BIDS tend to be more resilient to the challenges posed by the current economic climate.

“A great deal of hard work has gone into consulting with businesses about what direction they would like the BID to go in over the next five years and we are delighted that so many people have engaged – showing that businesses have a real passion for this area and want to take positive actions that will benefit everyone in this vibrant part of the city centre.”

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