Have your say on Abbey Quarter Business District 2019-24 consultation

Businesses operating within the area surrounding Reading’s historic Abbey Ruins are being invited to take part in a consultation for a new business improvement district (BID) starting in 2019. 

Reading UK, the non-profit inward investment company for Reading, is investigating if there is interest from businesses in the area to develop a new commercial district to deliver improvements for business in areas such as public realm, place marketing, regenerating the waterways, safer and cleaner streets and a host of other positive services.

What is a Business Improvement District?

A Business Improvement District (BID) is an area which has a specific and focused mandate to create extra services in addition to those already provided by the public authorities to maximise the experience for businesses, shoppers and workers. The decision to create and continue a Business Improvement District is driven by local businesses and enabled through a vote of all eligible businesses in the BID area.  If carried, businesses contribute a small levy on their business rates (typically around 1%) to deliver the plan of extra services.

There are over 340 business improvement districts across the UK including the current Reading BID which 530 town centre businesses have voted to support since 2006. 

If you are a business in the Abbey Quarter area (see map to check the area we are looking at), please take the time to respond to the consultation - CLICK HERE