Business Leaders back £15 million Midtown Vision

Posted on 4 March, 2015 by Neil Bird

Midtown, the central London district comprising Bloomsbury, Holborn and St Giles, is set to receive £15 million in private investment after local business leaders voted overwhelmingly to support inmidtown Business Improvement District (BID) and its ambitious five year plan.

Centre point, London

Over 88 per cent of businesses in Midtown – which include The British Museum, Olswang, Mitsubishi Corporation, Mediacom, Grange Hotels, Yahoo! And Bupa – backed the plan. The result is the highest ever recorded for any BID of this scale in the UK.

It ensures that the BIDs five year mandate will begin on April 1, guaranteeing a cash injection to enhance Midtown’s position as one of London’s most significant commercial districts and an internationally renowned business destination.

The news has been welcomed by London Mayor Boris Johnson who said: “The continued success of the capital’s economy relies on ensuring our great city remains attractive and competitive in order to support businesses and attract new investment.

“London’s Business Improvement Districts make a very significant contribution to achieving that goal and the five year plan set out by inmidtown promises to deliver some remarkable improvements across an important part of our city.”

The five year plan includes initiatives designed to tackle local issues and ensure that Midtown is a great destination to work and to visit;

  • Holborn tube improvements: Working with TfL to upgrade Holborn underground station to cater for the estimated 50 per cent increase in travellers by 2031
  • Street access and safety: Working with Camden Council to implement new street signage and remove the gyratory systems for safer travel
  • Drive inward investment: Aiming to establish Midtown as a major area of commercial growth and to positively influence planning policy
  • Creating safer streets: reducing crime through the introduction of two dedicated police officers and a Hotel Watch scheme to share intelligence
  • Creating a sustainable business district: Introducing innovative solutions such as a zero-to-landfill waste package and joint procurement services
  • The District for business: Staging business events, seminars and discussions to strengthen the area’s identity and increase visitor numbers
  • Supporting the local community: Implementing apprenticeships and work experience programmes to add to inmidtown’s already strong portfolio of community initiatives

Julie Rogers, of Mitsubishi Corporation, is the acting chair of inmidtown: “We are delighted that Midtown is set to reach new heights over the next five years, building on the fantastic work that has already transformed the area into a London destination we are very proud of,” she said.

“There is such a diverse range of businesses here – from tech to culture –which makes it a rich and inspirational place to work and we look forward to taking part in and benefitting from the future initiatives that inmidtown plans to implement.”

Midtown has already benefitted from significant amounts of private and public investment which has funded major developments including the redevelopment of Centre Point (pictured) and Africa House. Rental values in the district have risen from £40 per sq ft to £72 per sq ft although this figure remains 14 per cent below that of the West End.




Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


Recent Posts

Interest Rates Impact on Commercial Property

Commercial Property Investment Outlook for 2023

The best places to stay on the Riviera

The latest property data has identified Newquay as the fastest property seller’s market in the UK

Investing in your garden can increase your property’s value

French Riviera temping high-end homebuyers

How can the ownership rights of my commercial property impact a business sale?

Should I incorporate virtual property viewings permanently?

Investment expected to increase across Asia-Pacific in 2021

UK property industry slows as the conclusion of tax break looms

BNP Paribas cautioned investors on Friday as debt-trading bonanza that increased its earnings this past year

Over 300,000 property purchases fell through in 2020 – we show the most frequent motives and the best way to get your house sale back on track

House Prices in the Capital Surpass £500,000

Optimism from the Bank of England’s chief economist

The most expensive commercial properties.

Businesses operating from shared premises will miss out on grants