Businesses have voted YES to support a second term of the Huddersfield Business Improvement District (BID).

The Huddersfield BID team has been working for five years to showcase the town centre and bring about improvements.

BID member businesses with a rateable value of more than £10,001 in the BID area were given the opportunity to decide if the initiative continues from 2024 for a further five years.

The ballot, which ran from February 1-28, saw 29.97% of businesses returning their ballot papers – an increase of almost 4% on the previous vote, with 68.97% voting in favour of a second term – representing 69.63% in favour by rateable value.

Samantha Sharp, Huddersfield BID manager, said: “We are thrilled with the news that levy payers have voted in favour of a second term of Huddersfield BID.

“We know that the services we deliver make a big difference to the town centre – such as the Street Rangers, security, jet washing, graffiti removal, free courses for members and delivering amazing footfall-driving events to the town centre.

“After five years of delivering successful projects and services to improve Huddersfield town centre and support businesses, Huddersfield BID is looking forward to the next five years.

“The YES vote represents a further £2.2 million invested in Huddersfield town centre over the next five years which will provide additional support and services to the incredible businesses in the town.

“We would like to thank each and every business who has taken the time to vote in favour of a second BID term.”

The BID’s priorities for the next five years are: Enhance, Engage and Enterprise with a new focus on sustainability initiatives, assistance for void units and street art.

The BID levy will be set at 1.75% for Zone 1 (town centre), and 1% for Zone 2 (outside the ring road) of the rateable value for non-domestic (business) rates.

This is a slight increase from the 2019-2024 BID term because the 2023 Business Rates Revaluation has led to a reduction in the annual income for the BID, which means if there is no change to the BID levy, the projects and services the BID is able to deliver would be reduced.

As has been the case for the first term of Huddersfield BID, only those businesses with a rateable value of over £10,001 will be charged a BID levy. The new five-year term will commence on October 1, 2024.

If you’d like to view the business plan please visit https://huddersfieldbid.co.uk/huddersfield-bid-business-plan-2024-2029/