Ballymore helps secure Barnet’s first ever business improvement district at Edgware

There was exciting news for Edgware this week, as Barnet Council announced the borough’s first Business Improvement District (BID) – helping drive investment of up to £800,000 into the high street.

The BID is the culmination of a campaign led by the Edgware BID steering group. Comprising Ballymore, Transport for London, Barnet Council and local businesses, the group has spent the past year hosting extensive consultations to understand the priorities of businesses in Edgware which is home to Ballymore’s Broadwalk Shopping Centre – a key regeneration site for the local area. 

Speaking of the news, Ballymore Projects Director Simon Ryan said: “We are committed to the transformation of Edgware, and are delighted to see the BID become a reality. This announcement will bring local businesses together to collectively invest in the management and marketing of the town centre, with the aim of revitalising the area’s economy and creating a thriving business community.”

Cllr Anne Clarke, Barnet’s Small Business Champion and Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building added: “As the first BID in Barnet, the Edgware BID marks an important moment in our partnership with communities and businesses. 

“We care a great deal about our places and the people who live and work in our town centres, and by establishing this BID, we can foster a stronger dialogue between the council and the business community in Edgware. By working together, we hope that we can make Edgware a place for businesses new and old to thrive.”

Ballymore’s involvement in Edgware came in 2020 when the developer acquired the 17,650 sq m shopping centre, which sits on a 7.5 hectare site next to Edgware Underground Station. The Ballymore team is currently evolving designs for the site, with proposals including high-quality new homes and retail, public realm and green spaces and community and leisure facilities; Simon continued: “This is a hugely important site at the heart of Edgware – one which has the potential to unlock the regeneration of the town centre. We are thrilled to be bringing our ideas to the area, consulting with local people to develop a new place that all who live, work and play here can be proud of. 

“Our plans and the establishment of the BID are testament to the potential of Edgware as it becomes a revitalised, vibrant north London destination.” 

BIDs are business-led partnerships that enable coordinated investment in the management and marketing of a commercial area. Governed by legislation to ensure fairness and transparency, a BID is developed through consultation and the creation of a five-year business plan. Edgware BID is the first of its kind in Barnet’s local authority area; read more about it here.