London Business Improvement District (BID) Better Bankside has launched its ‘SAY YES TO BETTER,’ manifesto, outlining plans to deliver an economically stronger, greener and happier Bankside over the next five years.
As a not-for-profit company, funded by local businesses, a yes vote will secure £14million of investment into the area from 2025-30. The programme of projects and services delivered by Better Bankside is co-designed in partnership with its 1,000 member businesses (including world famous institutions such as Tate Modern, Borough Market and Shakespeare’s Globe). Established as part of a pilot in 2005, Better Bankside is one of the UK’s first BIDs, now there are over 300 across the country, proven to be a successful model of urban governance.
The Better Bankside ballot comes at a crossroads for this lively, hugely creative and diverse London area (known as ‘London’s Other Side,’) which after 20 years of evolution, is about to embark on a further period of growth. With 20 major developments in the pipeline and a significant increase in its workforce predicted by 2030, the BID and its focus on delivery through local partnerships and relationships, will be critical for maintaining and preserving Bankside’s treasured cultural identity and unique streetscape.
Continuing to build a resilient and inclusive local economy, prioritising green initiatives and investing in the wellbeing of Banksiders are the key pillars of Better Bankside’s manifesto (detail provided below and on attached, full manifesto.) These priorities build on the success of the BID’s last five years, whose dynamic and collaborative approach has created blueprint projects so effective they have been rolled out across other UK areas (Better Bankside’s CCTV mapping system inspired the Metropolitan Police’s London MetMaps launch and their Southwark Climate Collective decarbonisation programme has created a sustainability model for other city districts).
Nicole Gordon, CEO of Better Bankside said; “We’re so proud of everything we’ve achieved here together since 2005. And we’re geared up to deliver our best ever programme in 2025-30. We are in a unique position to deliver agile solutions for our 1,000 member businesses. They are completely connected to our BID and help shape our decision-making. This feeds into the improvement and energy of Bankside through a shared sense of pride and participation. A YES vote on the 29 November will lock-in a £14million investment for our neighbourhood, allowing us to work together in creating a stronger, greener and happier Bankside.”
Of Better Bankside’s five-year proposals, The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said; “The important work that Nicole and the team do at Better Bankside is helping to drive London’s economic growth. Transport for London, London Fire Brigade and the Greater London Authority have offices based in Bankside and our staff are benefiting from the improvements, including bike hubs, green spaces and recycling efforts in this vibrant part of our city.
“Better Bankside is a trusted partner in the development of a London-wide business climate action initiative. By helping to reduce carbon emissions, it’s supporting London to achieve our net-zero goals as we work to build a fairer, greener London for everyone.”
The Business Improvement District (BID) model is more important than ever. They are uniquely placed to broker and develop a new form of best practice for urban areas. By being more embedded in their local communities, BIDs are better attuned to their needs and can be more responsive in bringing about local improvements.
Better Bankside was one of the UK’s first ever Business Improvement Districts and was one of five trial areas, inspired by the model in the US, which launched in the early 2000s. This devolved form of governance was a good fit for Bankside – a lively London area south of the river with a huge cultural identity and home to an array of diverse sub-groups interested in different issues. Since its introduction, Better Bankside has been a pioneer of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) action, equality and inclusion and has delivered a bold, co-creative and flexible approach to its governance and operations. Better Bankside’s ballot will open on 28 October and close on 28 November. The result will be announced on Friday 29 November. Organisations based within the Better Bankside area are eligible to vote.