Today is a historic day as the business community within Fleet Street Quarter (FSQ) has voted overwhelmingly in favour of establishing a Business Improvement District  (BID) for the area. The area which will now see substantial inward investment and local stewardship, especially in terms of public realm improvements.

The BID has an ambitious but deliverable 5 year business plan embracing the whole community. Driven by the private sector, the Fleet Street Quarter BID will go live in April for a first five-year term, delivering a range of ambitious projects including major public realm enhancements, agenda-setting green and climate resilience initiatives and high-profile destination marketing campaigns. For the Fleet Street Quarter, with a first term budget estimated at £12.5m, the BID’s work will focus on:
 
• BID acting as a custodian of the Fleet Street Quarter area, promoting the area and its businesses as a desirable place for business, culture and leisure.
• Engaging with decision makers and lobby on behalf of the whole business community championing inclusivity and diversity.
• Enhancing the physical environment to positively improve the experience for all. The FSQ BID’s work will focus on addressing Climate Change, promoting traffic reduction and improve the public realm creating a more walkable and accessible location.
• Supporting an ambitious development pipeline, transforming the historic location, blending the old and the new to create a sustainable business district, in which to live, work, play and visit.

 
Martha Grekos, Chair of the Public Realm and Environment Steering Group for Fleet Street Quarter, said: “This is a real game changer for the area, at the best possible time as the City’s resurgence gathers pace. The FSQ team have worked so hard to get to this milestone and the BID will now deliver on its promises to ensure that the area returns to being a vibrant and exciting place to live, work and visit. I am looking forward to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to deliver a diverse, inclusive, green and sustainable public realm for the community, providing the platform for businesses to continue to evolve and flourish. The public realm enhancements will be the catalyst for this area."