• Swindon & Wiltshire Economy
• Thursday May 15 2025

Detailed merger plans unveiled by Bristol’s BIDs

Detailed merger plans have been unveiled by Bristol’s three Business Improvement District organisations.

Bristol City Centre, Redcliffe & Temple and Broadmead BID want to join forces, with a pledge to invest £18 million to improve the centre of the city.

A members’ ballot will be launched on June 5, and if approved the new bid will be launched on November 1.

A new business plan, launched yesterday (Wednesday) outlines a model with the opportunity to generate up to £3.8 million annually from more than 1,000 member businesses.

The BID would focus on four themes:

• Safe & Supported Communities – including the existing street ranger services, crime reduction partnerships and homelessness support initiatives
• Sustainable & Green – driving improvements to the city’s public realm through greening projects like tree planting, wildflower meadows and green walls, alongside climate action support, sustainable travel schemes and harbour regeneration plans
• Experiences & Promotion – building Bristol’s profile as a vibrant cultural destination, with a focus on flagship events such as the Bristol Light Festival, enhanced PR and digital marketing and the creation of a new Bristol Shopping platform
• Clean & Welcoming – extending services including jet washing and graffiti removal, while introducing enhanced signage, improved visitor wayfinding and a new City Ambassador service to strengthen Bristol’s welcome

Steve Bluff, director of Redcliffe & Temple BID, said: “The Redcliffe and Temple area has evolved rapidly in recent years and we’ve shown what targeted BID investment can achieve. Uniting as Bristol BID would allow us to expand that success and ensure our growing business community is fully supported across the whole city centre.”

Vicky Lee, director of Bristol City Centre BID, said: “This is a pivotal moment for Bristol. The opportunity to combine our resources and ambitions under one BID offers not only value for businesses but the chance to elevate the city’s national profile. This isn’t just about efficiency, it’s about vision, delivery and pride in our place.”

Vivienne Kennedy, director of Broadmead BID, said: “Broadmead has seen first-hand how collective action through a BID can transform an area. By joining forces, we can strengthen our voice, expand our services and ensure the retail heart of the city thrives for years to come.”

If successful, the BID term will run from Saturday 1 November 2025 to Thursday 31 October 2030, with existing commitments for Bristol City Centre BID and Broadmead BID maintained through 2027 and 2028.

Pictured: The Bristol BID team (credit: Julian Preece Photography)

Latest: City centre safety could be improved with BIDs merger

Latest: Bristol firms vote ‘yes’ to merged Business Improvement District