BID-Sunderland-Business-Plan-FINAL-WEB-VERSION

Business 

Plan 

2014 - 2019 

Sunderland City Centre 

Business Improvement District (BID)

BID Sunderland 

www.bidsunderland.co.uk


Contents 

04 

Introducing the Sunderland BID 

06 

A city with great potential 

08 

The BID area 

10 

A profile on BIDs 

12 

Real money for real change 

14 

Your views, your priorities 

17 

Putting Sunderland on the map 

18 

A safer city centre 

21 

A city to be proud of 

22 

Invigorating the evening economy 

25 

Access all areas 

26 

A strong business voice 

28 

BID rules 

32 

BID budget 

33 

5 reasons to back 5 years of investment 

34 

What happens next 

03 



Introducing 

the Sunderland 

BID 

If Sunderland city centre is to become the vibrant 

place we want it to be, much needs to improve 

Our city has a proud history and huge untapped potential. 

To realise this potential, though, we face many challenges. 

We believe the BID will not only address these challenges, but also create new future opportunities that will greatly 

benefit city centre businesses. 

Competition from Newcastle, Durham, the Metrocentre, retail parks and online retailers will continue to increase in 

the coming years. Action is needed now to make sure Sunderland is not left behind and to help the city hold its own 

as a vibrant, appealing place to visit. 

04 

Hundreds of business people have taken part in a series of presentations, workshops and meetings over the last 

few months. Your views have firmly shaped the BID priorities set out in pages 16-27 of this Business Plan. 

The BID will be a business-led, independent not-for-profit company run for the benefit of Sunderland city centre. 

More renewal and revitalisation is needed to help fill existing shops and buildings, improve the prosperity of local 

businesses, leisure and service providers and encourage new investment. 

A BID for Sunderland would send a strong message to investors and visitors that we are serious about making 

positive changes to our city centre, as well as attracting more visitors into the city centre and getting them to stay 

longer and spend more. 

It will enable us to put actions in place that will improve the visitor experience, better promote the city centre and 

ensure everyone feels safe while enjoying evenings out. 

Andy Bradley 

Chair of the BID 

Steering Board and 

Centre Director of the 

Bridges, Sunderland 

“The BID 

is about 

working 

together to 

achieve 

something 

really special” 

In Sunderland’s 21st year as a city, a ‘yes’ vote would mark our coming of age and a huge step towards maximising 

our potential. 

The BID is about working together to achieve something really special and we very much hope you vote ‘yes’. 

Regards, 

Andy Bradley 

Chair of the BID Steering Board and Centre Director of the Bridges, Sunderland 





A city 

with great 

potential 

Twenty one years after becoming a city, Sunderland now has 

the opportunity to accelerate city centre growth and create 

long-term prosperity. After extensive consultation businesses 

now have the chance to vote for a city centre Business 

Improvement District (BID) 

06 

Harry Collinson, 

owner, Collinsons 

Jewellers 

“The BID gives 

us a chance 

to move the 

city forward 

together. I urge 

anyone within 

the BID area to 

vote yes when 

they get the 

chance to 

do so.” 

While Sunderland city centre has much to offer visitors, 

several issues are preventing it from fulfilling its true 

potential as a thriving, vibrant place to visit. 

The city is blessed with many cultural and historic assets, 

including the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, 

Sunderland Minster and the Empire Theatre. 

It has a reputation for putting on a show – the Stadium 

of Light has become a headline venue for internationally 

acclaimed artists and bands. In the last 3 years the 

stadium has hosted concerts with Take That, Coldplay 

and Bruce Springsteen and highlights this year include 

Rihanna and Bon Jovi. One Direction chose the Stadium 

as one of only 4 UK venues for their 2014 World Tour. The 

Sunderland International Air Show is Europe’s largest free 

air show and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors a 

year. It is home to around 300,000 people, a flourishing 

university and hundreds of successful businesses, many 

of which have a global reputation and export across 

the world. 

It is built on an economy shaped by its coastal location 

and dominated by success stories in car manufacturing, 

business services and engineering. But at the urban core 

of the city serious challenges remain which – as many city 

centre businesses are aware - need urgent attention. 

Tackling challenges head on 

Like most cities across the UK, Sunderland has faced 

dwindling footfall and rising numbers of empty shops at 

the hands of the tough economic climate and growth in 

online sales and retail parks. 

It is battling against its own unique challenges - such as 

fierce competition from nearby retail hubs like Newcastle, 

Durham and the Metrocentre and the pressing need for 

renewal and revitalisation in the city centre. 

It is recognised that more needs to be done to promote 

the city to visitors and get them to stay longer and spend 

more money. Other issues around negative perceptions 

of safety, security, cleaning and maintenance also exist. 

Maximising opportunities 

But opportunities are emerging too, partly through the near 

£30m of new regeneration projects and capital investment 

currently planned for the city centre and being led by 

Sunderland City Council. 

These include the development of a pedestrianised 

boulevard at St Mary’s Way and Livingstone Road, creating 

a new impressive gateway to the city centre and freeing 

up space for a new public square in the heart of the city, 

ideal for major events to attract new visitors. 

Two new multimillion pound hotels, the new bridge and 

the demolition of Crowtree Leisure Centre to make way 

for new city centre development space and public realm 

improvements are also in the pipeline. 

Network Rail, together with the City Council and transport 

provider Nexus, are planning a £10m investment to 

radically improve passenger services and the visitor 

welcome at Sunderland Central Station - the key city 

centre arrival point. 

Meanwhile in the wider city business world, the Port of 

Sunderland, and various developments related to Nissan 

and its supply chain are among the private sector job 

creators continuing to bring people and wealth into 

the area. 

A formula for success 

Clearly for all the current challenges, there are numerous 

opportunities for city centre businesses to take 

advantage of. 

BIDs have helped to build stronger and more resilient 

economies in many other UK cities facing their own sets of 

challenges. Now is the right time for Sunderland to enjoy 

similar success with a BID tailored to the city centre’s 

specific needs and aspirations. 

We believe a BID is the solution to both tackle the issues 

holding Sunderland back and to put city centre businesses 

at the heart of future opportunities that lie ahead. 



There is currently almost £30m 

worth of new capital investment planned 

for Sunderland city centre 



The BID 

area 

The BID area has been carefully defined during 

extensive consultation 

The area is compact enough so that it will have a significant impact on the businesses within it but large enough to 

make it worthwhile for those involved. 

The BID fund could be in excess of £3.4m, but will only be spent on projects designed to directly benefit businesses 

within this area. 

08 

Masoud Farrahi, 

owner of Sunderland 

restaurants Angelo’s and 

Luciano’s 

“A BID is just what 

the city’s evening 

economy needs. 

We have a terrific 

range of quality 

clubs, bars and 

restaurants, but 

we need to do 

more collectively 

to help and 

support them.” 

A business with a ratable value of 

£15,000 would pay an annual levy of 

£225 – this equates to £18.75 per month, 

£4.33 per week or 62p per day 



Wearmouth 

Bridge 

Vaux Site 

Cinema 

Government 

Offices 

Empire 

Theatre 

Sunniside 

University 

Minster 

The Bridges 

Library 

& Arts 

Centre 

University 

Holmeside 

Museum 

& Winter 

Gardens 

Software 

Centre 

BID Boundary 

Civic 

Centre 

Mowbray 

Park 

An accurate BID map together with a full 

list of street names is available on the 

BID website 



A profile 

on BIDs 

In 2004, following successful models in Canada, America, South Africa and Australia, legislation for the creation of BIDs 

was introduced in England, and later in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. 

Since then, more than 130 BIDs have been created including those in Newcastle, London, Dublin, Swansea, Nottingham, 

Brighton, Liverpool and Edinburgh. 

BIDs are created by a ballot amongst participating businesses who agree to fund additional services which meet their 

local need. They have a maximum term of five years before they have to return to their electorate in order to be renewed. 

Over 90% of renewal ballots are successful, proving that, when a successful BID is in place, businesses want to keep 

funding and supporting it. 

They succeed because they are focused, creative and efficient – they provide a direct response to business needs. 

Local authority and police services are not replaced – a BID enhances these with additional, supplementary resources. 

That is why we believe that Sunderland will significantly benefit from a BID. 

10 

Empire 

Cinema 

The BID fund could be in excess of 

£3.4m and will be invested by the BID 

in Sunderland city centre over the five-year term 





Real money 

for real 

change 

A chance to shape the city centre’s future 

Having taken a lead role in developing Sunderland’s BID proposition, businesses now have the power to make 

sure its aims are realised. 

A ‘yes’ vote will see at least £3.4m being invested in increasing footfall, and making Sunderland city centre a busier, 

cleaner, safer, more vibrant and better marketed city. 

The Sunderland BID is a private sector initiative driven by businesses for businesses. This Business Plan is built on 

in-depth consultations with local companies and representative business associations alongside public service 

providers including Sunderland City Council, the Police, Street Pastors and University of Sunderland. The BID has 

received full support, endorsement and financial assistance from the City Council. 

12 

Moving forward together 

As well as tackling the existing issues affecting Sunderland today, a key factor of the BID is its ability to complement 

the many future developments planned in the city centre in the coming years. With an estimated £30m of investment 

being put into these projects, they present huge opportunities in the visitor economy and for city centre businesses. 

The BID’s role is to make sure these opportunities are fully capitalised on. 

What we have already achieved 

The concept of a BID was proposed by Sunderland Business Ltd, a not-for-profit organisation founded and led by 

leading city businesses and organisations who want to help improve the city’s economy and tackle some of the 

challenges facing it. 

In developing the Business Plan the BID Team researched and learned from successful BIDs elsewhere in the country. 

Sunniside 

Leisure 

The feedback received from independent, regional and national businesses operating in Sunderland city centre 

has been vitally important and has shaped the content and priorities in this Business Plan. 



A city centre BID would 

generate 

£3.4m 

to spend on growing our city 

centre economy over 5 years 



Your views, 

Your priorities 

The consultation 

Consultation over the past months has been extensive including: 

A launch event at Sunderland Minster on 26th February. 

Nearly 40 voluntary ambassadors actively promoting the BID to city centre businesses eligible to vote. 

Consultation workshops with nearly 70 city centre businesses at the Point. 

A consultation workshop with members of Sunderland Council who provide city centre services. 

Consultation workshops with the Police, Street Pastors and Creative Industries. 

Engagement with independent retailers through Sunderland City Centre Traders Association. 

Engagement with Pubwatch, restaurants and other representatives of the evening economy. 

Series of presentations to key stakeholders, such as professional services and business groups. 

Regular lunch-time drop-in sessions for city centre businesses. 

Where next 

The Business Plan reflects the consistent views and priorities expressed by businesses throughout the BID consultation. 

We have developed a BID that will: 

14 

Drive footfall, dwell time and spend in the city centre. 

Develop a more vibrant evening economy attracting more people between 5pm and 10pm. 

Promote Sunderland as a city with a thriving events and festivals calendar. 

Create new events, markets and festivals to appeal to a broader audience and attract all generations. 

Offer improved marketing and promotion of Sunderland city centre. 

Create better signage, access and information for visitors. 

Give Sunderland a cleaner, brighter, safer city centre. 

Develop a strong leadership and influencing voice for city centre businesses. 

Ensure businesses capitalise on the estimated £30m of new city centre developments by the City Council 

and its partners, that are currently in the pipeline. 

Revolution 

Sunderland 

Now it’s decision time 

The following pages set out what you told us are the top priorities – ‘You said’ - and what action the BID will take to 

deliver positive change and improvements - ‘We will’. This is a chance for you to be part of an exciting journey towards 

the creation of a prosperous Sunderland city centre economy. 



Preston BID 

Organised Lancashire Market, increasing footfall in the city by 

28% New events within the first 24 months increased 

footfall by over 150,000




Putting 


on the map 

The City Council and its partners have a £30m capital 

investment programme that will change the landscape 

and bring new and exciting prospects for the city. The 

BID will be at the heart of promoting a programme of 

quality and sustainable events throughout the year to 

attract a wide range of visitors - including families - 

creating a positive image for Sunderland and bringing 

real benefits for city centre businesses 

17 

You said 

We will 

• City centre businesses could capitalise more from 

the current range of events. 

• Existing events need more and wider marketing. 

• More festivals and events are needed to attract 

new visitors and audiences. 

• Improved co-ordination of public transport could 

make events more accessible. 

• Support new events and festivals that widen the 

appeal of the city centre’s entertainment offer to 

a wider audience including families. 

• Improve the marketing of city centre events including 

a regular ‘listings’ guide. 

• Use online, social media, and other technology to 

encourage visitors into the city centre. 

• Create a BID brand for all consumer facing projects 

to become a badge of quality in the public mind. 

• Create cultural food and drink events involving local 

businesses and restaurants. 

• Work with partners to develop an enhanced 

Markets offer. 

• Introduce parking offers for events and work with 

partners for better co-ordination and routing of 

public transport. 

• Work with event organisers to improve the co-ordination 

and impact of existing events. 

Market Square 



A safer 

city centre 

Although Sunderland is one of the UK’s safest cities, 

the BID aims to help reduce crime further and, as 

a result, increase footfall 

You said 

We will 

18 

Mowbray 

Park 

• The negative perception of safety in Sunderland is 

deterring some visitors, particularly in the evening. 

• The lack of confidence in safety and security is made 

worse by streets being quiet, particularly backstreets 

and after dark. 

• In some areas there is a high fear of crime linked to 

anti-social behaviour. 

• The evening entertainment offer is located in a variety 

of areas across the city centre, which are not easily 

linked by walkways and accessible transport. 

Liverpool’s BID created 

a home for police in St 

John’s shopping centre. 

The result was a 

20% drop 

in violent crime, a 

13% drop in 

vehicle crime and a 

12% drop in 

criminal damage in the 

BID area 

• Introduce street rangers to provide a warm welcome to 

the city centre during major events, help guide visitors 

and tackle anti-social behaviour. 

• Improve communications to better connect businesses, 

police, CCTV operators, street rangers and pubs. 

• Hold a regular city centre security forum to share 

crime intelligence and liaise with the police and crime 

prevention groups. 

• Apply for Purple Flag status, a nationally recognised 

quality standard for city evening economies. Purple 

Flag can create real benefits including a raised profile, 

improved public image, attract more visitors and 

increased spend. 

• Work with taxi companies and the council to evaluate 

optimum use of taxi marshals and temporary taxi ranks 

to support the events programme. 

• Work with public transport providers and taxi companies 

to improve information and access to services. 







A city 

to be 

proud of 

The BID will help to improve the cleanliness and visual 

appeal of the city centre 

You said 

We will 

• There is a general perception that Sunderland is 

a clean city centre. However, empty or dilapidated 

buildings can create an impression of neglect. 

• More could be done to tackle litter dropping, 

vandalism, and other anti-social behaviour. 

• There is limited awareness among city centre 

businesses of the council’s existing cleaning 

and maintenance services, such as the rapid 

response Helpline. 

• The city centre could benefit from more greenery 

and floral displays. 

• Develop and maintain a pocket parks programme 

to brighten areas of the city centre and encourage 

a spread of floral displays and window boxes at 

commercial premises. 

• Work with absent landlords to improve the visual 

appearance of empty or closed premises. 

• Campaign to change litter-dropping behaviour and 

promote the case for more recycling points, small 

bins and ashtrays. 

• Hold designated environmental/clean-up days 

involving the public, businesses and city centre 

communities. 

• Work with businesses and the council to raise 

awareness of existing services, and how businesses 

can access rapid responses and support. 

21 

Sunniside 

Hull’s BID removed over 

6,000 

pieces of graffiti during 

a cleaning programme 

it ran in partnership 

with the city council 



Invigorating 

the evening 

economy 

The BID will enable businesses of all sizes in the city 

to benefit from a livelier evening economy 

You said 

We will 

22 

• We need to attract a broader range of visitors, including 

families, into the city centre in the early evening. 

• We need to develop a stronger early evening offer 

and encourage existing businesses to tailor opening 

hours to visitor needs. 

• The cost of parking in the evening can deter people 

from coming into the city centre. 

• The long walking distances between key areas of 

the city centre can limit movement of people around 

the city in the evening. 

• Develop a series of themed festivals and events, such 

as music, food and sporting activities, to attract families 

and a broader variety of age groups. 

• Encourage city centre workers to stay in the city after 

5pm through quality campaigns and promotions. 

• Lead an effective marketing programme to promote 

the evening offers to a wider audience. 

• Work with city centre businesses to introduce parking 

offers after 5pm. 

• Encourage greater use of public transport and look 

at new transport forms for short journeys such as 

tuk tuks and bicycles. 

Angelo’s 

Restaurant 

Newcastle’s NE1 BID 

introduced a late night 

opening initiative, Alive 

after 5, which attracted 

an additional 

1.9m 

visitors after 5pm in the 

first 12 months 







Access 

all areas 

To be a successful city centre business, it’s crucial that 

your customers can find you – and it’s just as important 

for visitors, workers and those using the city centre for 

leisure and events. The BID will help make getting 

around Sunderland city centre easier and improve 

the flow of footfall through better signage, access 

and communication 

You said 

We will 

• The current access and signage can be confusing 

for city centre visitors and needs to be clearer to 

help people find their way around the city. 

• More maps and guidance are needed to help people 

understand the city centre attractions offer. 

• Better access is needed to major stores with drop 

off points. 

• Install large maps around the city centre and 

look at using more innovative technology to 

display important messages. 

• Develop a location phone app featuring retail, 

restaurants, pubs and places of interest. 

• Produce a printed street map or city centre 

guide and a regular events guide. 

• Deploy street rangers to help welcome and 

direct visitors during major events. 

• Influence decision makers to create better sign 

posting of one-way systems and improve the 

quality and consistency of existing signs. 

• Work with car park owners to install more signs 

in car parks to inform residents and visitors. 

• Work with the charity and voluntary sectors to 

help shape access to the city centre for all 

members of our community. 

25 

Priestman Building, 

University of 


Winchester BID developed 

a retail map that 

publishes 

20,000 

copies every six months 



A strong 

business 

voice 

The BID is a private sector-led initiative driven by the needs 

of city centre businesses. It will form a strong voice for 

businesses and influence decision makers on their behalf. 

It will collectively represent businesses and seek to tackle 

and address the challenges they face 

You said 

We will 

26 

Aphrodite 


An effective and credible business voice is needed 

for city centre businesses to influence: 

• Key decision makers. 

• Investment priorities. 

• The best use of public services in the city centre. 

• Be a strong voice to represent the city centre business 

community, working with the traders association and 

other city centre business groups, to influence policy 

decisions affecting the area. 

• Be a catalyst for opinion and influence on future 

strategic plans including capital investment. 

• Email bulletins, social networking, newsletters and 

information sessions will keep all businesses within 

the BID area up-to-date on what’s going on. 

• Hold regular networking sessions to open channels 

of communication and facilitate working relationships 

between businesses in the BID area. 

• Feature information on businesses within the BID 

area on the BID website. 

• Work with partners to achieve better co-ordination 

and use of resources. 

• Work with partners to raise awareness and increase 

access to existing public services. 

The BID will continue to listen to all businesses 

Once created, the BID will continue to value your opinions, with a number of provisions to ensure that your interests 

remain at the heart of our work: 

• Annual business surveys to assess the impact of new BID services. 

• Annual presentation of results and regular feedback sessions. 

• To make sure the management of the BID meets the expectations of all businesses within the BID area, it will in 

its first term, apply for a dual accreditation from the national membership organisation, British BIDs, certifying 

the high quality management and successful delivery of the BID. 






rules 

In developing the rules that will apply to the Sunderland 

city centre BID, consideration has been given to “The 

Industry Criteria and Guidance Notes for BIDs” (2012) 

published by British BIDs on behalf of the British Retail 

Consortium, the Inter Banking Rating Forum and the 

Federation of Small Businesses 

28 

The Winter 

Gardens 

The Ballot 

1. Sunderland City Council, at its own cost, will send a 

ballot paper to the eligible voter at each hereditament 

to be included in the BID proposal. 

2. Before this, the council will conduct a canvass to try 

and identify the eligible voter, by sending out a named 

voter form. If a named voter form is not completed 

and returned, the ballot paper will be sent to the 

name provided by the local authority’s business 

rates department. 

3. Each hereditament subject to the BID, will be entitled 

to one vote in respect of this BID proposal. This will be 

a postal ballot which will start on 20th June 2013, and 

close at 5pm on 18th July 2013. Ballot papers received 

after 5pm on 18th July 2013 will not be counted. 

4. In order for the proposal to be successful at ballot 

the result will need to meet, as a minimum, two 

independent criteria which are: (a) of those ballots 

returned by the close, those voting in favour of the BID 

proposal must exceed those voting against it, and (b) 

of those ballot papers returned by the close, the total 

rateable value of those properties or hereditaments 

which vote in favour, must also exceed the total of 

those voting against. 

5. The ballot will be counted by Sunderland City Council 

who will announce the result as soon as practically 

possible after the close of ballot. 

6. If successful at ballot, the BID will start delivery of 

services in April 2014 and will continue for a period 

of 5 years to March 2019. 

7. At the end of the 5 year term eligible voters will be 

asked to vote on a BID renewal proposal. 

Finances 

1. It has been assumed that 97.5% of the billed levy 

will be collected each year, and this collection rate 

has been applied throughout the term. 

2. The budgeted income from levy collection in the first 

year is £536,111. 

3. The average budgeted annual levy available to be 

spent by the BID for the term is £569,257. 

4. A contingency provision on expenditure provides 

for an anticipated surplus of £105,430 by the end 

of the term which equates to 3% of expenditure. 

5. Income in addition to the levy will be generated 

to assist the BID with achieving its objectives. An 

agreement in principle has been reached with 

Sunderland City Council for a minimum grant support 

of £50,000 per annum throughout the 5 year term. In 

addition, the Bridges Shopping Centre will contribute 

£33,289 per annum (plus inflation) and Sunderland 

Association Football Club will contribute £30,000 per 

annum by way of marketing support. A key strand 

of activity will be to utilise the availability of the levy 

and the activities of the BID to lever in additional 

income through project support, match-funding and 

sponsorship. In addition, the BID will provide a ‘Friends 

of the BID’ scheme in order that it is fully engaged 

with those businesses that are not subject to the 

levy either because their rateable value is below the 

threshold or their location is outside the boundary 

of the BID. 

6. Total additional income is budgeted as £577,353, 

or 17% of anticipated levy income over the term. 

7. Operating costs of the BID, are estimated as 19% 

of total expenditure. 




30 

Empire 

Theatre 

The Levy 

1. The levy rate to be paid by each property or 

hereditament is to be calculated as 1.5% of its rateable 

value as at the ‘chargeable day’ (notionally 1st April 

each year). 

2. Only properties or hereditaments with a rateable value 

of £15,000 or more will be liable for payment of a levy. 

3. Listed buildings, whether occupied or unoccupied, 

will not be exempted from the levy and will be liable 

for the full levy that would, otherwise, apply. 

4. The number of properties or hereditaments liable for 

the levy is estimated at 454. 

5. The levy rate will be increased by the fixed rate of 

inflation of 3% per annum. 

6. The levy will be charged as one amount annually in 

advance, with the chargeable period being April to 

March each year. No refunds will be available on the 

levy charged. 

7. The owners of untenanted properties or hereditaments 

will be liable for payment of the levy. 

8. Occupiers within the Bridges Shopping Centre who 

are already subject to an additional service charge 

for management, marketing, security and / or 

cleaning services will pay a levy equivalent to 1.25% 

of their ratable value. However, income to the BID 

remains the same as the owners of the Bridges are 

providing additional funding of 0.25% each year. 

This arrangement is in common with shopping 

centres in other BIDs across the country. 

9. A rating revaluation is proposed in 2017, but this or 

any other revaluation during the term of the BID will 

be ignored for the purposes of calculating the levy. 

Instead, the rateable value from the time of any such 

revaluation will be defined as the rateable value within 

the current ratings list. 

10. The exception to this will be any change of use or a 

physical change to a property or hereditament including 

inter alia; new construction, merger, subdivision, 

extension and refurbishment. 

11. If, during the term, the rateable value assigned to 

a property or hereditament falls below £15,000 for 

whatever reason (either through physical change, 

change of use, or revaluation arising from the 

adoption of a revised Rating List), the property or 

hereditament will be exempt from the levy from the 

next chargeable period. 

12. If, during the term, a property or hereditament with 

a rateable value which had previously been below 

£15,000 threshold is assigned a new rateable value 

which is above £15,000, the property or hereditament 

will not be liable for the levy from the next chargeable 

period unless the increase results from a change of 

use or physical change, as previously described. 

13. Sunderland City Council will be responsible for 

collection of the levy and will not charge for doing so. 

Governance 

1. A new not-for-profit Company will be formed to 

manage the BID. 

2. Following a ‘yes’ vote an interim BID Steering 

Committee will be nominated to represent levy paying 

businesses within the BID area and such other 

businesses and stakeholders as required until the 

BID becomes formally operational in April 2014. It 

is intended that the Chair of this interim Committee 

will be Andy Bradley, Centre Director of the Bridges 

Shopping Centre to ensure continuity through this 

phase from the current BID Steering Board. Within 

the interim period this Committee shall agree the 

procedure for electing the on-going Committee and 

suitable rotation policies for membership. Additional 

members may be co-opted, as required. Nominated 

representatives from the Council (e.g. the relevant 

Portfolio Holder, together with a senior council officer 

acting as an observer) and the Police will not be 

subject to any election process. 

3. The team that has been responsible for developing this 

BID Proposal will be responsible for initial planning and 

initial implementation in the interim period from ballot 

to March 2014. During this period, the BID Steering 

Committee will be responsible for the appointment of 

the operational delivery team for the BID. 

4. The Committee shall have the ability to vary service 

delivery and expenditure allocation according to 

the changing demands of levy payers. However, 

any change to the BID boundary or to the levy rate 

proposals would require an alteration ballot. 

5. Businesses within the BID area whose rateable value 

is under £15,000, and those outside the area, will be 

encouraged to support the work of the BID through 

a ‘Friends of the BID’ scheme. 

6. An agreement in principle, subject to a successful 

‘yes’ vote has been reached with Sunderland City 

Council on an Operating Agreement which includes 

the Council’s baseline services commitments. A copy 

will be found at www.bidsunderland.co.uk. 

7. Notice of the intention to hold a ballot was given to 

the Secretary of State on 7th March 2013. Notice 

of Ballot will be sent to participating businesses 

by Sunderland City Council within the required 

statutory period. 






budget 

The tables below set out the BID financial plan for the 5 year 

period of the BID from April 2014 to March 2019 

BID Income and Expenditure 

Income Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 

Levy £536,111 £552,194 £568,760 £585,823 £603,398 

Voluntary marketing 

contribution from 

SAFC 

Additional income 

from other sources 

£30,000 £30,000 £30,000 £30,000 £30,000 

£83,289 £84,288 £85,934 £86,375 £87,467 

32 

Total £649,400 £666,482 £684,694 £702,198 £720,865 

The Expenditure table reflects the budget allocations for the BID priorities set out in pages 16-27. 

Expenditure Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 

The 

Bridges 

Safer, cleaner and 

accessible 

Marketing, events 

and evening 

economy 

Strong business 

voice 

£130,000 £133,900 £137,917 £142,055 £146,316 

£330,000 £339,900 £350,097 £360,600 £371,418 

£45,000 £46,350 £47,741 £49,173 £50,648 

Overheads £120,000 £123,600 £127,308 £131,127 £135,061 

Carry forward £24,400 £22,732 £21,632 £19,244 £17,422 

Total £649,400 £666,482 £684,695 £702,198 £720,865 



5 reasons 

to back 

5 years of 

investment 

“One of the key aims of 

the BID is to make people 

aware of what’s going on 

and that things are starting 

to happen again.” 

Les Ojugbana, Gbana Security 

“Sunderland is a place of 

great possibilities and Land 

Securities, one of the major 

investors in the city through 

our ownership of the Bridges, 

is delighted to support BID 

Sunderland both financially 

and in leadership support 

to the Steering Board. With 

business rates in the city up 

to 30% lower than other cities, 

the 1.5% levy provides great 

value for money for traders 

and businesses of all sizes.” 

Gerald Jennings, Portfolio Director, Retail 

Land Securities 

“We work in partnership with 

more than 200 businesses to 

maximise the impact of the 

Stadium of Light concerts 

within the city – a successful 

BID would take this way of 

working to the next level.” 

Gary Hutchinson, Commercial Director, 

SAFC and chair of Sunderland Business Ltd 

“The BID will help to get more 

people into the city centre to 

shop and encourage them 

to come in the evening.” 

Les Chadwick, Robertson Simpson 

chartered surveyors 

“People really understand 

the importance of making 

changes in the city, having 

a crowd again and 

increasing footfall.” 

June Clark, Serendipity Teas and Trinkets 

33 

Christmas 

switch on 



What we want 

you to do 

Now it’s decision time. This is a chance for you to be part of an exciting journey towards the creation of a prosperous 

Sunderland city centre economy. Below are some key dates for your diary. 

Thursday 20th June 

2013 

Thursday 20th June – 

Thursday 18th July 

Thursday 18th July 

Sunderland City Council will send a ballot paper to those responsible for 

properties with rateable values of £15,000 or above within the BID area. 

Ballot papers should be completed and returned to Sunderland City 

Council by 5pm on 18th July. 

Ballot closes at 5pm and the result will be announced as soon as 

practically possible after the ballot closes. 

34 

What we will 

do next 

In the event of a ‘yes’ vote, the BID team will be kept busy with the key activities needed for the BID to become operational 

in April 2014. Your thoughts and ideas will be important to us during this time so we’ll continue to keep in touch. 

Elephant 

Tea Rooms 

August 2013 

September 2013 

October 2013 

November 2013 

December 2013 

January 2014 

February 2014 

March 2014 

April 2014 

Establish an interim BID steering committee and interim BID 

executive team. 

Develop the model for the BID Company. 

Create the BID consumer brand. 

Agree the BID’s first year plan. 

Gather feedback on the proposed first year plan. 

Prepare detailed action plans to deliver the first three month’s activity. 

Finalise and test levy collection processes. 

Prepare and publish marketing communications showcasing the first 

three month’s activity plans. 

Issue levy payment invoices to businesses. 

Launch BID Company and activities. 




BIDSunderland 

Business Gateway 

5th Floor Edinburgh Building 

Chester Road 


SR1 3SD 

t: 07712 816 138 

e: info@bidsunderland.co.uk

BID-Sunderland-Business-Plan-FINAL-WEB-VERSION

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