Businesses in Wood Green have voted to turn the town centre into a Business Improvement District named “Future Wood Green”, allowing local enterprises to choose and deliver the projects most important to them.
The Business Improvement District – also known as a BID – will be set up and financed by local businesses, who will work together to set priorities and coordinate investment in Wood Green.
The BID area runs from Wood Green Station to Turnpike Lane Station, covering all of the High Road, the Mall, and immediate surrounding areas, and it will formally start operating on July 1.
The Future Wood Green ballot of 340 businesses – which members of the Wood Green BID Steering Group asked the council to run – was held throughout February and the results came in last night.
The ‘yes’ vote gives businesses an opportunity to make decisions about improvements in their area, makes it easier for enterprises to attract external funding and gives local businesses an even stronger voice in the area as wider plans for Wood Green evolve.
As part of their Future Wood Green campaign, businesses also pledged to build on Wood Green’s diversity to ensure it is a destination of choice, hire and manage their own dedicated security team and attract Alexandra Palace visitors to the town centre.
Harry Rashid, chair of the BID Steering Group, said:
This is a unique opportunity for Wood Green businesses to address some real and significant issues facing us and ensure a strong business environment for the future. I have no doubt the BID will make a real difference, improving Wood Green’s image and helping business growth.
The BID would not have happened without a huge amount of support from a variety of organisations. While it’s important to say this is absolutely a totally independent initiative for businesses by businesses, my thanks also go to Haringey Council for aiding the opportunity. Also thanks go to all members of the Steering Group who have given so much of their time and effort and to our advisers – The Means, who have guided the process throughout.
This is the beginning of an exciting journey for Wood Green; there will be a lot of hard work ahead but we are looking forward to the challenge.
Haringey Council is currently consulting with the community on our Wood Green Area Action Plan, which paves the way for 4,000 new jobs, 6,400 new homes and a transformed and thriving town centre.
Cllr Joe Goldberg, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Social Inclusion and Sustainability, said:
BIDs give local enterprises more say on the issues they really care about and it’s fantastic that we have businesses here in Wood Green who are committed to helping the borough thrive. Driving our economy and helping our town centre to grow is an essential part of our wider plans for Wood Green, and we look forward to working with the business community to create a booming and rejuvenated high street.
Read all about the ballot here: http://futurewoodgreen.com/
Find out more about our Wood Green Area Action Plan consultation here: http://www.haringey.gov.uk/news/have-your-say-wood-green-s-future