Business Improvement Districts

A Business Improvement District (BID) is a precisely defined geographical area of a town, city, or commercial district where businesses have voted to invest collectively in local improvements in addition to those delivered by statutory authorities. 

They are often, although not exclusively, a partnership arrangement through which the local business community and the statutory authorities can take forward projects which will benefit the local economy.

There are currently four BIDs Scotland projects operating across the city region, with three involving town centre regeneration of particular significance to the retail sector.

In 2008 Edinburgh’s city centre businesses voted in favour to create a Business Improvement District – the first in the Capital and only the 5^th in Scotland.