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# Lichfield Business Improvement District allows traders to ‘take ownership’ of retail environment
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/lichfield-business-improvement-district-allows-traders-to-take-ownership-of-retail-environment/
- Published: 2015-06-16T07:30:18.000Z
- Updated: 2015-06-15T19:50:12.000Z
- Description: Plans for a Business Improvement District in Lichfield will allow city centre traders to take control of their area, a new report has claimed.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Business, News

Plans for a Business Improvement District in Lichfield will allow city centre traders to take control of their area, a new report has claimed.

[![The Lichfield Business Improvement District documentation](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/lichfieldbid.jpg)](//lichfieldlive.co.uk/?attachment%5Fid=143742)

The Lichfield Business Improvement District documentation. Pic: Lichfield BID

Companies will vote on plans to generate more than £1million in funding to boost city centre trade.

The money – which will be raised by a levy on local businesses – could be used to fund things like free wi-fi across the city.

A report by Cllr Ian Pritchard to a meeting of the economic growth and development scrutiny committee tonight (June 16) has highlighted how the Business Improvement District (BID) could impact on the way the city centre is managed.

[![Cllr Ian Pritchard](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/ianpritchardcrop.jpg)](//lichfieldlive.co.uk/2012/04/30/time-running-out-for-lichfield-and-burntwood-residents-to-take-up-free-insulation-offer/ianpritchardcrop/)

Cllr Ian Pritchard

He said: “The BID has the potential to make Lichfield city centre more vibrant, increase footfall and customers, and deliver new projects and city services that businesses have chosen.

“Ultimately, a BID enables traders to take control of their own trading environment and to deliver business-led initiatives with a defined area.”

If the businesses vote for the project they will pay around 1.5% of their rateable value a year, with more than half of the city’s companies paying £250 per annum.

Larger traders, such as Tesco and Morrisons will pay £3,000 a year, while Lichfield District Council will pay a maximum of £10,000 each year.

However, the local authority will also be asked to approve an upfront loan of £156,800 to the BID project.

Cllr Pritchard explained: “This will be recouped over the first term of the BID.

“The payment is also relatively risk free as once a BID has been established, businesses are legally obliged to pay the levy.

“This form of upfront payment is commonplace in BID areas and enables them to deliver in year one.”