Almost 60 per cent of 260 plus retailers at Bristol's Broadmead centre turned out for the voting, which closed late last week. A surcharge of 1.5 per cent on the rateable value of retailer's stores will be collected from later this year - a move which will raise about£1 million to update street furniture, lighting and the general ambience of the outside centre.
A yes vote was vital to revamp the shopping district as Bristol Alliance - a body made up of developers Land Securities and Hammersons - will shortly begin work on a new£500 million retail, residential and leisure scheme which could become a competitor rather than complement to existing Broadmead.
Centre manager John Hurst said he was thrilled that the BID had been accepted, but admitted the process had not been without its problems, despite a number of BIDs across the UK now having been accepted.
'There isn't a clarity on who makes the decision in any of the major multiples. In some it's a branch manager in some it's the retail director, property surveyor or managing director,' he said.
No comments yet