Business Improvement Districts
Business Improvement Districts are business led partnerships which are created through a ballot process to deliver additional services to local businesses.
They can be a powerful tool for directly involving local businesses in local activities and allow the business community and local authorities to work together to improve the local business environment.
A Business Improvement District is a defined area in which a levy is charged on business rate payers in addition to the national non-domestic rates charge. This levy is used to develop projects which will benefit all in the local area.
There is no limit on what projects or services can be provided through a Business Improvement District. The only requirement is that it should be something that is in addition to services provided by local authorities. Improvements may include, but are not limited to, extra safety/security, cleansing and environmental measures.
The following are business improvement districts within the City of London:
BID Area:
For information relating to the BID area this covers, please refer to the BID Website.
BID Rules:
The BID Levy will be applied to all Non-domestic ratepayers of rating hereditaments (hereditaments has the meaning given in the Business Improvement District (England) Regulations 2004) in the Culture Mile BID area between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2028 that have a BID rateable value greater than or equal to £200,000. The BID levy will be rounded to the nearest penny and there will be no VAT charged. The annual BID levy for 2025/26 is calculated by multiplying the BID rateable value by the BID Multiplier 0.01 (1%).
The term of the BID will be for the period from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028. The full BID levy for a chargeable period must be paid by a single instalment on the Single Instalment Due Date stated on the demand notice.
The BID levy will be based on the rateable value of the hereditament in the 2017 Rating List effective on 31 March 2023. In the event that there is no such rateable value available, the BID levy will be calculated based on the rateable value from when the hereditament is first valued. This RV is fixed for the term of the BID, any subsequent decrease or increase to the RV will not amend the charge.
The BID levy may increase by an annual inflationary factor currently set at 2.5%. The board of directors will be required to decide on whether to apply the inflation factor after year three of the BID term.
The BID levy will be a daily charge. Liability for the daily BID levy will fall on the occupier of the hereditament on a particular day. If a hereditament is unoccupied, the liability for the daily BID levy will fall on the person or organisation entitled to possession (the Owner) on the particular day. For this purpose "entitled to possession" has the same meaning as under Section 65 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.
All hereditaments where the ratepayer is charitable and in receipt of mandatory charitable relief will receive 80% discount from the BID levy. The owners (persons entitled to possession) of empty hereditaments will be liable for the BID levy with no void period allowed.
The BID levy charged per hereditament will be capped at £40,000.
The Levy is an annual charge payable in advance and no retrospective refunds will be made should the valuation of the property subsequently change.
Contact info:
For any information relating to the culture mile bid, please email them direct.
For any questions regarding your bill and making payment, please email the City of London BID team.
BID Area:
For information relating to the BID area this covers, please refer to the BID Website.
BID Rules:
The BID Levy will be applied to all Non-domestic ratepayers of rating hereditaments (hereditaments has the meaning given in the Business Improvement District (England) Regulations 2004) in the Fleet Street Quarter BID area between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2027 that have a rateable value greater or equal to £180,000. The BID levy will be rounded to the nearest penny and there will be no VAT charged. The annual BID levy for 25/26 is calculated by multiplying the BID rateable value by the BID Multiplier 0.01051 (1.051%).
The term of the BID will be for the period from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2027. The full BID levy for a chargeable period must be paid by a single instalment on the Single Instalment Due Date stated on the demand notice.
The BID levy will be based on the rateable value of the hereditament in the 2017 Rating List effective on 1 April 2022. In the event that there is no such rateable value available, the BID levy will be calculated based on the rateable value from when the hereditament is first valued. This RV is fixed for the term of the BID, any subsequent decrease or increase to the RV will not amend the charge.
The BID levy may increase by an annual inflationary factor currently set at 2.5%. The board of directors will be required to decide on whether to apply the inflation factor after year three of the BID term.
The BID levy will be a daily charge. Liability for the daily BID levy will fall on the occupier of the hereditament on a particular day. If a hereditament is unoccupied, the liability for the daily BID levy will fall on the person or organisation entitled to possession (the Owner) on the particular day. For this purpose "entitled to possession" has the same meaning as under Section 65 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.
All hereditaments where the ratepayer is charitable and in receipt of mandatory charitable relief will receive 80% discount from the BID levy. The owners (persons entitled to possession) of empty hereditaments will be liable for the BID levy with no void period allowed. The Inner and Middle Temple are fully exempt from the BID levy.
The BID levy charged per hereditament will be capped at £30,000.
Refunds of the BID levy will only be made for the current year the alteration is made following deletions or reconstructions of hereditaments.
Contact info:
For any information relating to the fleet street quarter bid, please email them direct.
For any questions regarding your bill and making payment, please email the City of London BID team.
BID Area:
For information relating to the BID area this covers, please refer to the BID Website.
BID Rules:
The BID Levy will be applied to all Non-domestic ratepayers of rating hereditaments (hereditaments has the meaning given in the Business Improvement District (England) Regulations 2004) in the Fleet Street Quarter BID area between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2027 that have a rateable value greater or equal to £500,000. The BID levy will be rounded to the nearest penny and there will be no VAT charged. The annual BID levy for 25/26 is calculated by multiplying the BID rateable value by the BID Multiplier 0.01051 (1.051%).
The term of the BID will be for the period from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2027. The full BID levy for a chargeable period must be paid by a single instalment on the Single Instalment Due Date stated on the demand notice.
The BID levy will be based on the rateable value of the hereditament in the 2017 Rating List effective on 1 April 2022. In the event that there is no such rateable value available, the BID levy will be calculated based on the rateable value from when the hereditament is first valued. This RV is fixed for the term of the BID, any subsequent decrease or increase to the RV will not amend the charge.
The BID levy may increase by an annual inflationary factor currently set at 2.5%. The board of directors will be required to decide on whether to apply the inflation factor after year two of the BID term.
The BID levy will be a daily charge. Liability for the daily BID levy will fall on the occupier of the hereditament on a particular day. If a hereditament is unoccupied, the liability for the daily BID levy will fall on the person or organisation entitled to possession (the Owner) on the particular day. For this purpose "entitled to possession" has the same meaning as under Section 65 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.
All hereditaments where the ratepayer is charitable and in receipt of mandatory charitable relief will receive 80% discount from the BID levy. The owners (persons entitled to possession) of empty hereditaments will be liable for the BID levy with no void period allowed.
The BID levy charged per hereditament will be capped at £40,000.
Refunds of the BID levy will only be made for the current year the alteration is made following deletions or reconstructions of hereditaments.
Contact info:
For any information relating to the eastern city bid, please email them direct.
For any questions regarding your bill and making payment, please email the City of London BID team.
BID Area:
For information relating to the BID area this covers, please refer to the BID Website.
BID Rules:
The BID Levy will be applied to all Non-domestic rate payers of rating hereditaments (hereditaments has the meaning given in the Business Improvement District (England) Regulations 2004) in the Cheapside BID area between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2030 that have a BID rateable value equal to or greater than £180,000. The BID levy will be rounded to the nearest penny and there will be no VAT charged. The annual BID levy for 2025/26 is calculated by multiplying the BID rateable value by the BID Multiplier 0.006 (0.6%).
The term of the BID will be for the period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2030. The full BID levy for a chargeable period must be paid by a single instalment on the Single Instalment Due Date stated on the demand notice. BID levy will be charged in advance in full for a year. Refunds may be due if the liable account holder moves out midway through the financial year. The new liable party will be billed from when they enter the Rates system with the Local Authority.
Where the hereditament is deleted and removed from the Valuation List, any resulting credit will only be refunded for the year in which the Valuation Office Agency notify the Local Authority of the deletion. Previous years will not be refunded.
The BID levy will be based on the rateable value of the hereditament in the 2023 Rating List effective on 31 March 2025. In the event that there is no such rateable value available, the BID levy will be calculated based on the rateable value from when the hereditament is first valued. The RV is fixed for the term of the BID, any subsequent increase or decrease to the RV will not amend the charge.
The BID levy will be a daily charge. Liability for the daily BID levy will fall on the occupier of the hereditament on a particular day. If a hereditament is unoccupied, the liability for the daily BID levy will fall on the person or organisation entitled to possession on the particular day (the Owner). For this purpose "entitled to possession" has the same meaning as under Section 65 of the Local Government Finance Act1988.
All hereditaments where the ratepayer is charitable and in receipt of mandatory charitable relief will have an 80% discount from the BID levy. The owners (persons entitled to possession) of empty hereditaments will be liable for the BID levy with no void period allowed.
The BID levy charged per hereditament will be capped at £10,000. Full details of the Cheapside BID can be found here.
Contact info:
For any information relating to the cheapside bid, please email them direct.
For any information relating to your bill and making payment, please email the City of London BID team.
BID Area:
For information relating to the BID area this cover, please refer to the BID Website.
BID Rules:
The BID Levy will be applied to all Non-domestic ratepayers of rating hereditaments (hereditaments has the meaning given in the Business Improvement District (England) Regulations 2004) in the Aldgate Connect BID area between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2030 that have a BID rateable value equal to or above £130,000. The BID levy will be rounded to the nearest penny and there will be no VAT charged. The annual BID levy for 2025/26 is calculated by multiplying the BID rateable value by the BID Multiplier 0.01 (1%). The levy will assume a growth rate for inflation of 2.5% applied on 1st April each year.
The term of the BID will be for the period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2030. The full BID levy for a chargeable period must be paid by a single instalment on the Single Instalment Due Date stated on the demand notice. BID levy will be charged in advance in full for a year. Refunds may be due if the liable account holder moves out midway through the financial year. The new liable party will be billed from when they enter the Rates system with the Local Authority.
Where the hereditament is deleted and removed from the Valuation List, any resulting credit will only be refunded for the year in which the Valuation Office Agency notify the Local Authority of the deletion. Previous years will not be refunded.
The BID levy will be based on the rateable value of the hereditament in the 2023 Rating List effective on 31 March 2025. In the event that there is no such rateable value available, the BID levy will be calculated based on the rateable value from when the hereditament is first valued. The RV is fixed for the term of the BID, any subsequent decrease or increase to the RV will not amend the charge.
The BID levy is an annual charge. It will fall on the occupier of the hereditament. If a hereditament is unoccupied, the liability for the annual BID levy will fall on the person or organisation entitled to possession (the Owner). For this purpose "entitled to possession" has the same meaning as under Section 65 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.
All hereditaments where the ratepayer is charitable and in receipt of mandatory charitable relief will have an 80% discount from the BID levy. The owners (persons entitled to possession) of empty hereditaments will be liable for the BID levy with no void period allowed.
The BID levy charged per hereditament will be capped at £10,000 with no inflation applied for the term of the BID. Full details of the Aldgate Connect BID can be found here.
Contact Info:
For any information relating to the aldgate bid levy, please email them direct.
For any questions regarding your bill and making payment, please email the City of London BID team.
Pay online
Payment can be made using our online internet payment service (debit or credit card only)
What happens if I don't pay:
If you do not pay your BID charge within 7 days of it being due, we will issue you with a reminder to pay within a further 7 days.
If the balance is not cleared within a further 7 days, we will issue a Summons to the Magistrates Court for non-payment of the business improvement district charge. This will add costs to your account.
If you pay the amount shown on the summons in full, including costs, before the date of the court hearing, we will not take any further action.
If you dispute the liability, you must contact us immediately. You will have to tell us why you are not liable for the charge and supply evidence to support your claim.
Please ensure all communications quote the words ‘bid summons’. This will enable us to prioritise the matter.
At the court hearing, we will apply for a Liability Order which will incur you further costs. This will give us powers to collect the money you owe, including:
- passing the debt to an enforcement agent to collect payment
- starting bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings against you or your company
If we have passed a Liability Order to an enforcement agent (formerly known as a bailiff), you must make all payments and enquiries directly to them.
If you do not pay the amount due, the enforcement agent can remove and sell your goods to pay off what you owe.
Unclaimed Credits:
- If applicable, the credit can be offset against other NNDR/BID debts owed by the same entity.
- Where no response is received and the credit remains unclaimed after 6 months, the credit is to be written back permanently and you will be unable to claim this at a later date.