Portsmouth Business Improvement District: Traders agree to £1.6m city centre plan to attract shoppers back to Commercial Road

Portsmouth traders have voted to introduce a Business Improvement District (Bid) to make the city centre more vibrant and “welcoming to all”.

Among the features that could with the Bid are events and cultural activities, more marketing, more cleaning, a “greening up” programme to introduce more flowers, and new street art, bunting, or other injections of colour.

The Bid, which will be funded by a charge levied on city centre businesses in the area and will also be eligible for grants, is managed locally and so those in charge can decide what they want to bring in - with input from those businesses taking part. It also acts as a forum for businesses and is a way of them having their voices heard.

It comes after a consultation last year, and earlier this year 93 per cent of businesses in the zone voted in favour of introducing the Bid.

What is a Bid?

A Bid is a business-led, funded scheme that enables investment into a commercial area.

The scheme, which is governed by law, requires consultation with local businesses on what improvements are needed, resulting in a five-year business plan.

Businesses then vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’, and if successful, those within the boundary are required to pay a levy over five years, regardless of whether they voted in the ballot.

In Portsmouth, the levy is anticipated to be 1.75 per cent of rateable value for any business with a rateable value of £7,500 or more, with circa 280 businesses generating approximately £321,000.

Bids are usually managed by a limited company with a board of non-executive directors, the majority of whom are levy payers. The board oversees strategy, performance and delivery to ensure the Bid reflects the needs of local traders.

Bids regularly secure additional income through grants, sponsorship and partnership funding.

Portsmouth City Council, as the largest levy payer, will contribute £35,000 a year. Cllr Steve Pitt, leader of the council, said the authority is committed to regenerating the city centre to create an “attractive, vibrant, well connected and safe trading environment that increases footfall and benefits the local economy”.

What’s the point?

Bids provide a range of benefits to commercial areas, including reductions in crime and antisocial behaviour.

A successful Bid can help increase footfall and raise the profile of an area through public realm improvements such as cleaner, greener and better-maintained streets.

Bids also provide a powerful collective voice for local traders, allowing them to influence local decision-making and lobby the government on important issues.

Plymouth city centre’s Bid was established in 2005 and is now in its fifth five-year term. Footfall in the area outperforms regional and national averages.

It is responsible for Plymouth Against Crime ranger patrols, Christmas lights, live entertainment, and events including FlavourFest, which generated £3m for the economy over three days.

City Centre

In the consultation material, British Bids said it is recognised that “more needs to be done to improve the area and create a greater incentive to visit and spend”.

It said it would focus on the “compact area around Commercial Road and Guildhall Walk”, recognising Gunwharf Quays as a destination in its own right.

Traders also shared concerns with British Bids, with crime and anti-social behaviour cited as the biggest issues, alongside cleanliness.

Other concerns include a lack of police presence in the city centre, a lack of “community togetherness”, and a desire for more green pedestrian routes.

One comment said: “It’s not a city centre that people enjoy spending time in; it’s more a place to come and do the task and leave.”

What traders have to say

Some 93 per cent of those who cast a vote were in favour of a Bid, representing 78 out of 84 votes.

Ben Cork, operations manager at Boots UK, said the company has been part of Bids since their inception 20 years ago. He added that a Portsmouth Bid would be “really exciting” as the company has seen successes in Southampton and Winchester.

NatWest branch manager Richard Thrippleton said: “What I like about the Bid is that it allows us all to be part of a community united together to identify and deliver our business priorities.

“With our combined knowledge and expertise along with some financial resource, businesses can be part of creating a better promoted, safer and more attractive Portsmouth building upon the many positives that the city centre already offers.”

Primark store manager Al Lye said he has experienced “first hand” the opportunities Bids provide and “how significant its impact can be within each local community”.

“I also know what a successful Bid would offer to Portsmouth City Centre, which includes improving how our city centre looks and feels, helping to establish a safer shopping experience for colleagues and customers and creating a stronger event calendar to really make visiting our city centre an experience.”

Priorities

The Bid business plan outlines four priorities for Portsmouth city centre from 2026 to 2031, funded by £1.59m in levy income.

It focuses on improving safety through patrols, better crime reporting and closer collaboration with police, while also boosting footfall through events, marketing and campaigns to attract visitors and investment.

The city centre’s appearance and accessibility would be enhanced through cleaning, greening and public realm improvements, alongside efforts to make it more inclusive and visually appealing.

The BID would also represent businesses, support regeneration and sustainability, and maintain ongoing dialogue with traders. Most funding is allocated to safety, followed by marketing, environmental improvements, collaborative work and operational costs.

Of the total budget, the largest share of £600,000 is allocated to safety and security, followed by £350,000 for events and marketing, £250,000 for environmental improvements, £50,000 for collaborative initiatives, and £336,740 for operational costs.

The Bid will initially operate between 1 October 2026 and September 2031.