Stourbridge businesses give backing to business improvement district plan

A ballot of town centre businesses saw 77% vote in favour of creating a Stourbridge Business Improvement District(BID), which organisers say will secure around £835,000 to be spent on supporting businesses and improving the town centre. 

A business improvement district scheme sees businesses working together to improve the town centre and market it as an attractive place to work and visit. There are around 350 such schemes already in operation in other areas across the country.

Chair of the Stourbridge BID Steering Group and Ryemarket Shopping Centre Manager Aaron Powell, said the vote was "superb news for Stourbridge"

“Huge congratulations must go to all the businesses which rallied and joined forces to ensure we secured a yes vote in the BID ballot," he said. 

"Thanks must go to all those businesses who engaged in the process by sharing their ideas and opinions on how we can work together to improve the town centre and who, ultimately, voted in favour of the plans that support each other in these challenging and uncertain times.

“The BID’s business plan, which businesses were being asked to vote on, has been designed to address the issues which came up during the lengthy consultations with many of the businesses in the town centre, from the small independent businesses to large national businesses."

The BID, which has been led by a volunteer steering group of business owners from across the town, will come into operation in April 2025 and will have an initial lifespan of five years. A company will now be formed to deliver the objectives of the BID over the next five years.

Councillor Paul Bradley, deputy leader of Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, said it would provide a “huge boost” for the town.

“As a council we have seen the huge difference the creation of a BID can make to a town in Halesowen.

“For that reason we were more than happy to back a similar BID in Stourbridge, and I am delighted that the great majority of traders have voted in favour to make it a reality.

“It is an exciting opportunity for business bosses to have an influence on making positive improvements to their towns. I think it will be a huge boost for Stourbridge, an opportunity to drive more trade and footfall to the town and create new jobs.”