Business Improvement Districts

What is a business improvement district?

Business Improvement Districts (BID) are created where local businesses see the opportunity to invest collectively to help make improvements which will benefit the local community.

They are developed, managed and paid for by the business sector by means of a compulsory BID levy which the businesses within the proposed BID area must vote in favour of before the BID can be established. 

Each business liable to contribute to the BID will be able to vote on whether or not the BID goes ahead.

The BID ballot process

This is a confidential postal ballot commissioned by the Ballot Holder.  The BID ballot procedure is conducted in accordance with the Business Improvement (Scotland) Regulations 2007.

Ballot papers are sent to those eligible owners to vote in the BID area.

For the BID to be successful, there must be a minimum of 25 per cent turnout by the number of businesses and by combined rateable value. Of those that vote, over 50 percent by number and 50 percent by combined rateable value must vote in favour of the BID.

Upcoming Ballots

Related Downloads

Related pages