Businesses in Bracknell's Southern and Western Business Areas have voted to renew their Business Improvement District (BID) status.

This decision secures £3.5 million to be spent on enhancing the trading environment and representing business interests over the next five years.

The positive result follows months of planning, interviews, surveys, and a month-long ballot.

(Image: STEWART TURKINGTON)

In the ballot, 85 per cent of votes cast were in favour of the BID renewal by the total number of businesses, and 87 per cent were in favour by rateable value.

This is an improvement on the previous ballot in 2019.

The BID has provided a range of support to businesses over the last five years.

This has included environmental improvements such as landscaping, increased lighting, and a mural.

(Image: STEWART TURKINGTON)

There have also been access improvements, including new wayfinding signage, a BID-funded shuttle bus, and a shared cycle scheme.

(Image: STEWART TURKINGTON)

The BID has also organised benefits and events for those working in the area, such as weekly fitness bootcamp sessions, business support webinars, a BID loyalty card, a jobs fair, and 'Meet Your Neighbour' events.

Chair of the BID, Maria Sabey, said: "This is fantastic news for Bracknell BID and a huge congratulations must go to all the businesses which rallied and joined forces to ensure we secured a yes vote in our renewal ballot.

"Thanks must go to all those businesses that engaged in the process by sharing their ideas and opinions on how we can work together to improve the area and who, ultimately, voted in favour of the plans to support each other in these challenging and uncertain times."

"The BID’s business plan, which businesses were being asked to vote on, has been designed to address the issues which came up during the lengthy consultations with many of the businesses in the BID area, from the small independent businesses to large national and international businesses."

As a result of the yes vote, the renewal of Bracknell BID will commence on April 1, 2025, and businesses with a rateable value of £12,001 or above will pay a levy based on their rateable value, creating a collective fund of more than £3.5 million to spend over the next five years.