Local businesses in Kings Heath, Birmingham, have voted to make the area the city’s fourth Business Improvement District (BID).

74% of the votes were in favour of becoming a BID, following the city’s Broad Street, City Centre and Erdington BIDs.

The partnership between the business community and local stakeholders will generate around £120,000 a year, through business rates as well as voluntary contributions, for the next five years. The BID Company will use the money to develop the local area to make it cleaner, safer and greener, according to stakeholders.

The BID proposal was put forward by the King’s Heath Business Association and supported by Birmingham City Council.

Graham Kay, Business Improvement District facilitator, said: ‘This is a great opportunity for the businesses in King's Heath to directly influence their trading environment. King's Heath has become only the second local centre in the United Kingdom to achieve this status.’

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