£1.8m business improvement plan for Warrington town centre

BUSINESSES in Warrington town centre have appointed not-for-profit environmental trust Groundwork to deliver a £1.8 million business improvement scheme.
The town has joined more than 200 other city and town centres who have chosen to implement a Business Improvement District (BID) since 2005.
Others include Manchester, Liverpool and Altrincham.
The BID in Warrington will represent a major change in how the town centre is managed, enabling and empowering businesses to take control.
Groundwork’s appointment follows an open and independently managed tender process, conducted during June and July. Groundwork are widely regarded as industry leading experts in managing Business Improvement Districts, with experience going back to 2005, shortly after the legislation for BIDs was first introduced.
The BID project is set to create an additional £1.8million of investment in the town centre. This will be used to deliver a number of key aims, including: a better marketed town centre that generates increased footfall, a safer and more secure town centre and a cleaner and greener town, with enhanced support for local businesses to prosper and grow.
Chairmsn of the Warrington BID steering group, Dawn Smyth, said: “The BID will create a close working partnership with companies and important stakeholders, including Warrington Borough Council, bringing a new vitality to our town centre.
“Warrington town centre has faced a range of challenges in recent years, but we believe that with Groundwork leading the delivery of the Warrington BID, we will be able to turn around the fortunes of the town centre over the coming years.”
Groundwork’s director of business, Greville Kelly, said: “We are really excited to have this opportunity to work with Warrington town centre businesses and to help realise the aims and objectives of the BID. The challenges faced by high streets are well documented. However, we believe that the delivery of the BID, combined with wider capital investments from the private and public sector will create an exciting future for Warrington town centre to look forward to.”
Initial priorities will include setting up the BID Board, delivering new investment for Christmas and new planning work to enhance safety and security across the town centre.
The BID will be funded through a small levy (1.5% of a premises rateable value) to be paid by all premises with a rateable value greater than £15,000.