At the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, we know from experience that strong, vibrant places are good for businesses, residents and visitors alike. That is why we welcome the work that’s underway to explore a Business Improvement District (BID) for Edinburgh’s Old Town.

Through our engagement with Essential Edinburgh in the New Town, and our membership of the wider British Chambers of Commerce network, we also have a strong awareness of the positive impact BIDs are having in towns and cities not just in other parts of our City but across Scotland and the UK. They provide an important mechanism for businesses to come together around shared priorities, develop a collective voice and invest in improvements that benefit the wider business community. They can also help create stronger partnerships between businesses, the public sector and other organisations with an interest in the future of a place.

Edinburgh’s Old Town is one of our most distinctive and valuable assets, with a critical role to play in our vital visitor economy, cultural offer and wider city centre economy. It also faces complex challenges which require shared vision, collaboration and a long-term approach.

We are very supportive of businesses taking the opportunity to explore what a BID could deliver for the Old Town. Ensuring the process is inclusive, transparent and shaped by the priorities of businesses will be essential to its success.