The Old Town is the heart of Edinburgh, welcoming over 2.56 million international visitors every year.
While our streets are world-famous, local businesses often lack a unified voice in how our district is managed.The proposed Business Improvement District (BID) is our chance to change that.
By working together, we can:
- Take Control: Ring-fence investment to be spent only on projects you vote for.
- Enhance the Area: Improve local cleanliness, safety, and street-level appeal.
- Boost Business: Ensure the Old Town remains Scotland’s premier destination for locals and tourists alike.
Building a Business Improvement District is a transparent, multi-stage process.
We are currently in the consultation phase, ensuring every local business has their say before the final plan is set in stone.
Phase 1: Research & Feasibility (Current) Gathering data and feedback from Old Town business owners to identify key priorities.
Phase 2: Business Plan Development (Winter 2026) Drafting the formal proposal based directly on your feedback and project requirements.
Phase 3: The Campaign (Early 2027) Sharing the final vision and showing how the ring-fenced investment will be spent.
Phase 4: The Formal Ballot (March 2027) The defining moment where businesses vote to officially launch the Old Town BID.
A Business Improvement District (BIDs) is created when the businesses in a defined area choose to invest collectively to achieve improvements to their area. BIDs are developed and managed by the businesses, created through a ballot process, and funded by a levy.
Edinburgh’s Old Town is a thriving centre for business, but faces several challenges, most notably cleanliness, safety, crime and anti-social behaviour. The area, although loved by residents, workers and visitors alike, suffers from a lack of co-ordination, joined-up management and investment.A BID allows businesses to make collective decisions to tackle some of the issues that impact businesses and their workers, improve the visitor experience, and ensure the area remains attractive. It also provides a collective voice for businesses to holdorganisations such as the Council and Police Scotland to account when core services aren’t being delivered.
No. The BID is being proposed by businesses. It is business-led, and business focussed. A number of business owners and operators in the Old Town have formed a Steering Group. The group is representative of retail, hospitality and tourism sectors. A full list of members is available on the web site www.oldtownbid.co.uk. The group is open to new members.BID Legislation requires the Local Authority to approve proposals for any ballot therefore the Council has a role in monitoring the BID development process. Therefore the City of Edinburgh Council is involved but is not leading this initiative.It is important to recognise also that if a BID is voted in, the Council will be one of the biggest levy-paying members, operating multiple sites in the Old Town.
The Steering Group is at the very earliest stages of developing its proposals. Work is being carried out on three options for the boundary.
Nominally:· Minimum: The Royal Mile, Cowgate, Victoria St and Grassmarket·
Median: The Royal Mile, and North to Waverley, South to Chambers St·
Maximum: The Royal Mile, Parliament, Holyrood, North to includeWaverley Station, South to Nicholson Sq, West to Lothian Rd
Once these models are developed, further consultation will take place to seek consensus before proposals are finalised.
If businesses vote in favour of a BID, the levy becomes mandatory for all eligible buisnesses within an approved BID area. The annual levy will be no more than 1.5% of the ratable value of the buisness premises. A levy threshold will ensure the smallest businesses (by rateable value) will not pay a levy. A levy cap will be proposed so the largest businesses will contribute up to a maximum limit.
The BID Ballot Process is set in legislation with more information available Improvementdistrict.scot. A result in favour of forming a BID requires a minimum turn out of 25%, and a majority in favour both in voter numbers and rateable value.If supported through at ballot, the Steering Group will be dissolved, and a BID Ltd Company will be established with Directors nominated and chosen by businesses. The Company will be accountable to the businesses within the BID boundary, and subject to mandatory company financial reporting processes. If in receipt of additional public funding, it will be subject to further monitoring and financial scrutiny.
The Steering Group is working to a target of a ballot in the Spring of 2027.
It is true that in a perfect world, businesses should expect a decent level of service in return for rates paid. It is also true that we do not operate in a perfect world.Core services are under extreme pressure and the evidence of this is plain to see day to day in the Old Town. No amount of complaining or campaigning has changed this for many years.A BID would strengthen the accountability of the Council and Police Scotland to deliver their core services because the BID Legislation requires a Service Level Agreement between any BID and their Local Authority which clearly delineates core services which continue to be provided by the council, and additional services put in place by the BID.A BID provides a mechanism for businesses to take collective ownership of the issues that affect business, determine for themselves what additional and complimentary services they want to see put in place to make improvements in the business environment.
The introduction of the Visitor Levy (VL), and the additional recourses it will bring is a game-changer. Businesses need to be represented and have a say in how this additional resource is invested in the Old Town. There is currently no formal business group in the Old Town for the Council to engage in its VL decisions such as exists in the New Town with Essential Edinburgh. A BID will provide this mechanism and could well benefit further by leveraging VL funding to achieve the best possible benefit for businesses.In addition, since 2019 the Johnnie Walker Experience and St James Quarter have opened and Winter Festivals been extended. These have a fundamental impact on the dynamic of the city and visitor flow, which Old Town businesses have no way to influence.The Steering Group is mindful of past experiences, and failures. It is determined to take a new, more professional approach to these proposals. The aim from the outset is to communicate regularly and clearly, consult fully and, as far as possible, reach consensus at each step of the process.Once proposals are fully developed, a Business Plan will set out what improvements businesses can expect, so they can clearly see a return on investment. Only by adopting this approach can a ballot gain sufficient support.
The Steering Group are using the diagram below to illustrate how a BID might work alongside basic core services and enhancements promised via the Visitor Levy
No this is not true.If voted in at ballot, an Old Town BID Company will be formed and will operate independently of Essential Edinburgh. Run by Old Town Businesses, for Old Town Businesses.At this early stage, Essential Edinburgh is supporting the Steering Group with some advice and back-office services.As neighbours, two powerful BIDs in Edinburgh City Centre would likely co-operate on some matters where this makes business sense. This may be especially the case when speaking with one voice, holding the Council to account.
The Steering Group has engaged with the Community Council and other stakeholders in the Old Town including Heritage Groups already. This is a sensible approach as any improvements to the business environment will likely benefit residents and will need to be mindful of maintaining our World Heritage Site status.Whilst the views and input of residents are important, they will not have a vote in a ballot and BID decisions will always be business-led.