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LATEST NEWS about the Peterborough BID
PETERBOROUGH POSITIVE’S BUSINESS PLAN
The Business Plan outlines the BID’s future priorities. These priorities have been shaped by city centre businesses over the past 18 months through multiple surveys, events and discussions.
Read the Business Plan now and find out the BID’s priorities and how the BID will work, if a Yes vote is secured in October 2021.

Peterborough’s Business Improvement District gets a Yes from local businesses
Peterborough Positive is delighted to announce that the city’s Business Improvement District (BID) scheme will be going ahead after a successful ballot over the past month.
The ballot received almost 84% of Yes votes in the ballot to secure £1.8 million of funding for Peterborough city centre over the next five years.
What is it?
Peterborough Positive is the city’s Business Improvement District (BID) campaign, and is one of the most exciting initiatives developed by the local business community in recent years – and we’d love your input to help shape its direction.
Representing over 400 businesses and organisations, Peterborough Positive is focused on delivering an ambitious business plan to transform the city centre – improving experiences, standards and adding value for all city users.
Leading on innovative projects and providing key investment, it aims to make the city centre a cleaner, safer and more welcoming place, raising its profile nationally with new, diverse and prestigious events and exciting marketing campaigns.
How does it work?
Businesses within the BID area with a rateable value of £15,000 or above are required to make an annual contribution (a levy) of 1.5%, resulting in approximately £350k investment per year into the city centre – or roughly £1.75m over the BID’s initial five-year term.
When does it happen?
Peterborough Positive is holding a Ballot vote to determine if the BID is adopted in autumn 2021.
The BID ballot period will start from 21 September 2021 when ballots are issued and close at the end of the day on 21 October 2021. All business rate payers valued at £15,000 and above in the BID area have a vote on the proposals. The BID period will last no longer than five years, if adopted.
Sign up today
If you own a business that is located within the Peterborough BID area, please complete the below form to be added to our mailing list to receive regular updates about the BID. Please provide the best address for us to send your ballot to (the ballot will take place autumn 2021).
How can I help?
To help determine priorities for the BID, Peterborough Positive has been consulting with businesses throughout the city centre over the last 18 months. The feedback received was used inform our five year Business Plan, with proposals reflecting the needs and ideas of local businesses in Peterborough. The Business Plan was published in August 2021 ahead of the Ballot vote in September/October 2021.
If a majority of city centre businesses vote in favour, the area will become a BID and all projects in the Business Plan get underway. All BID projects are additional to those already delivered by the local authority and other organisations.
IT'S TIME TO JOIN US
We'd love to tell you more about why we think a BID is important for Peterborough, and hear your views. We are hosting a series of events and encourage you to attend one to meet other businesses, and find out more.
A quick overview...
Phase 1
Businesses in the district area invited to fill in the survey.
Phase 2
Once the surveys have been completed, feedback will be collated and results communicated to the district.
Phase 3
Funding secured and outline plans for campaign structure communicated.
Phase 4
First year initiatives drawn up and agreed - now it's time to be positive!
THIS IS OUR TIME
Niro is an independent retailer in Peterborough, a business specialising in designer and specialty clothing. Our involvement with Peterborough Positive enables independent business like ourselves to have their issues be voiced and heard. For instance we worked with the local authority so they understood how PSPOs (Public Space Protection Orders) could be more effectively enforced to ensure businesses were not penalised unfairly within the City Centre and making Peterborough a great city to visit & shop.Paul Moraji, Niro
We chose Peterborough as the home of our first coffee house, BE.AR. Bean Around, because we could see the great potential of the area. We wanted to be there from the start of the BID project and help shape the future of our local business community. We see the BID as being the best way to realise opportunities for growth and development for the city of Peterborough, both economically and visually, and turn it into a family friendly destination as well as a business and shopping area that people are drawn to. We look forward to working with the BID team to help us all achieve our aspirations for growth and community developmentGareth Norman, Bean Around Coffee House
Take a look at some other successful BIDs
Cambridge
Leeds
Lincoln
Newcastle
Have your say, and back the BID! It's time to raise our city.
Sign up today
If you own a business that is located within the Peterborough BID area, please complete the below form to be added to our mailing list to receive regular updates about the BID. Please provide the best address for us to send your ballot to (the ballot will take place autumn 2021).
Where is the BID area?
The Peterborough BID area is focused around the city centre, and encompasses over 400 businesses, across a wide variety of sectors.
If you're one of the businesses within the area and you've not already been in touch with us, we'd really love to hear from you.