Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that Business Improvement Districts play an active roll in encouraging the return of footfall to the high street after the covid-19 outbreak.

Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have a significant role to play in regeneration of high streets and towns across England and their role will be even more important in the recovery phase from the current crisis.

We have announced changes to BID legislation, to delay BIDS’ ballots between now and 31 December 2020 by extending the BID arrangements until 31 March 2021, allowing businesses to focus on recovery from economic shock before deciding whether to participate in BID arrangements for the following five-year period.

We are currently exploring other ways we can support BIDs directly, but their business communities will benefit from the substantial package of direct support to businesses already announced by the Chancellor.