Purley’s bold plan to become a better place to live, work and shop have taken a huge leap forward with Croydon Council’s decision to back plans for a local Business Improvement District (BID).
“This is great news,” said BID driving force and Purley Business Association (PBA) Chair Simon Cripps, “now we can ask local businesses to vote for a regeneration initiative that will see something like £160,000 a year invested in street cleaning, parking, policing and much more. This will be something that benefits everyone and businesses will be in the driving seat.”
Croydon Council’s Cabinet decision on Monday night (21 September) comes after a number of prominent local politicians had already backed the BID.
Purley BID supporters include Croydon South MP Chris Philp, Croydon Council Leader Tony Newman, local Councillors Steve O’Connell and Simon Brew and Croydon’s Cabinet member for economy and jobs, Councillor Toni Letts. She said, “We want to ensure that our district centres such as Purley, are able to directly benefit from the economic growth generated by the multibillion regeneration of Croydon’s metropolitan centre.
“A Purley BID will give a strong voice to businesses in Purley and significantly strengthen the impact of regeneration in the area. We want to see Purley given the greatest opportunity to unlock its potential.”
Local businesses will start voting on 15 October with polls closing on 15 November. Results will be announced on 18 November and, if at least 51 percent vote ‘yes’, the BID will be launched on 1 February next year.
The initiative will be funded by a two per cent levy on businesses in the BID area, mostly the CR8 2 postcode, based on their rateable value. Other improvements planned will include better signposting and an advertising and marketing campaign to attract shoppers.
Businesses paying the levy, those with a rateable value over £8,000, will decide exactly how the money is invested. The aim is to tackle five areas of concern in Purley: access, perception and image, cleaner and greener, business engagement and safety and security.
PBA also wants to organise annual events, such as a ‘business of the month’ award ceremony, food and fashion weeks, and street markets.