04 Jul 2026
Businesses will soon have the opportunity to decide whether to back the renewal of St Albans BID (Business Improvement District) – the umbrella organisation which represents their interests in the city centre.
Last week the BID submitted a proposal to SADC for a new five-year term starting on April 1 2027, with a ballot to be held on October 8 this year.
St Albans BID was established in 2017 to represent a mix of retail, leisure, hospitality, office and service-based businesses across the city centre. Since then, it has focused on delivering a wide range of projects and services aimed at enhancing the trading environment, increasing footfall, improving perceptions of the city centre, supporting business growth and strengthening safety and securing initiatives.
This includes managing the Enjoy St Albans website, delivering the Shop Safe radio scheme, providing floral planters, hanging banners and seasonal lighting displays, and running events including George Street Gin and Jazz, the Pop-Up Beach and Alban Day.
Its defined area extends north to border St Peter’s church, east to Upper Marlborough and Marlborough Road, south to Holywell Hill and west to Verulam Road, and its operations are financed by a levy collected from approximately 546 businesses within this zone.
We contacted the majority of the independent city centre businesses who pay a levy for their opinions on the work carried out by the BID.
Not everyone replied, and of those who did, some requested anonymity so they could be candid in their answers.
Owner of George Street Canteen Julie Lee said she did not see any added value from the levy she pays: “I think there are a lot of things that the BID does that are not relevant to a lot of the businesses.”
She said although the BID tells retailers what they are doing, she doesn’t see these activities as useful to her own business.
When asked what she would score the BID levy in terms of value for money out of zero, Julie rated them a zero.
She said she has made suggestions as to what BID could do but none of it was implemented and added that she doesn’t see their marketing campaigns or adverts around.
However, she likes the installations – such as the lit-up seat and the LOVE sign by The Cock that appear in the city centre at Christmas and Valentine’s Day – but thinks they could do with updating because it’s “quite boring” having the same things each year.
Julie said would like businesses to have more say in what the money is used for, adding: “The hospitality industry is very fragile at the moment. I think the BID could help by improving signage to the more historical areas which would help with tourism.”
Sam Campagna of Barbone barbers in High Street said it’s quite difficult to quantify value but that he thinks BID has “an overall positive effect on the city”. He added that their events and displays bring business to St Albans but that he is not particularly sure what the levy gives and that unfortunately, like most businesses at the moment he is focused on keeping it moving forward and so just pays it in good faith.
Sam, who has been a successful businessman and entrepreneur from a young age, scored the BID five out of ten for value for money.
He said he wasn’t aware of the Enjoy St Albans businesses directory online, but has seen the BID reposting on social media such as when he has tagged them in his Instagram.
He described the street installations as “great”, and although he feels his business is safe, a lowering of business rates would be appreciated.
Would he like to have more of a say in matters affecting the area, such as the Victoria Street plans or matters to do with the market? “Yes for sure.”
Marc Trinder of Trinder Hair Studios in George Street said: “I see value in the payment, however I feel what it is spent on should be covered by the business rates we have to pay.” He is referring to business rates which are paid by everybody to St Albans district council.
Marc scored the BID an eight out of 10 in terms of value for money and said “communication is shared via newsletters” so he is aware of where it goes.
Should he make any suggestion to the BID he said he feels he would be heard and he finds the staff friendly and approachable
Marc added that he sees their marketing campaigns and adverts and that “their spotlight videos have helped us to be highlighted”, although he said he doesn’t feel the reach is far enough and that sometimes he is unaware of local activities until they are happening.
Regarding the light installations around the city at Christmas and other times of the year, Marc said more variety would be good as well as something which could lead visitors up from the station down Victoria Street.
He added: “I am aware of various health and safety events the BID organises and the crime information is very useful in raising awareness.”
Managing director of Beelex in Verulam Road, Neil Clifton said he isn’t sure what he gets for the levy payment and awarded BID a zero out of 10 for value for money. He said that it seems to be concentrated on the hospitality sector, but added: “On the one occasion a member of BID has come into our store in the last few years they were very polite.”
Although Neil likes the installations he would like to have more of a say in matters affecting the area: “Pedestrianisation or closing roads has a huge negative impact on our type of business and the majority of others. The closure of the High Street after Covid was a disaster for every bricks and mortar business.”
Another business owner, who asked to remain anonymous said: “The BID levy should be an optional payment. We are not very central and receive no real footfall anyway. A string of lights on one side of the road at Christmas isn’t going to bring visitors down this particular road.”
Lawrence Boys at Tinkletorium said he isn’t sure what the levy goes towards and scored the BID a five out of ten in terms of value for money. He said his business is not listed on the Enjoy St Albans directory online but that he likes the installations.
Restaurateur Andrei Lussman of Lussmans said he sees no value from the levy payment, and on a scale of 0-10, he wouldn’t score them higher than a five in terms of value for money.
Andrei said his business’ details are out of date on the Enjoy St Albans website and that he never sees BID’s marketing campaigns or adverts.
He doesn’t like the art installations around the city and describes them as a “poor use of funds.” Andrei added that he would like to have more say in what goes on around the city.
A business owner based in Holywell Hill said he would score the BID only a two out of 10 for value for money from his levy payment. He added: “I know what I’m getting but it doesn’t really impact me much.
“I see their campaigns, yes, but I’m not sure they affect me. The installations are fine, but again they draw people to the other end of town. I would love to have a bigger say, but it is just for the popular, more involved members of the group. I have to run my business so I can’t get too involved.
“I’ve never really benefitted from the BID levy. I get that they do things for the town and many will benefit as lots of people are brought to George Street, High Street, St Peter’s Street etc, but Holywell Hill is left out and customers are drawn away by the events up the hill.”
Another anonymous business owner said: “I don’t really know what we get for the levy, no. Perhaps seasonal decorations and fairs…but these are of no real benefit to us.”
Giving a score of zero out of 10 he said that the levy seems “very large” and “as it’s compulsary, I definitely expect something in return”.
He added that he doesn’t think his business is listed on the Enjoy St Albans website: “I’ve certainly never had a customer telling me they found us there.”
He said he hasn’t even seen any adverts placed by the BID anywhere and doesn’t know if they create general footfall.
“The installations add a little something but new ideas each time would add more value, I think.”
He commented that he feels the security is quite good in St Albans but he is aware of some burglaries and added: “I’d like to get something out of the money I’m forced to pay and I guess a say in local matters goes a tiny way towards this.”
Marina De Sclavis of Chaos City Comics said she has definitely noticed an increase in business thanks to the events created by BID and scored an eight out of 10 for value for money.
She made a suggestion once to one of the staff for more lighting on Heritage Close and said that it was not actioned, but added: “The staff that come to see me at the shops are always very nice. I love all the decorations – they look lovely and bring more people.
“When my family come at Christmas from Italy, we always take pictures around St Albans as it looks very pretty with the extra sparkles, but I would sleep better at night if the payment was less.”
Another anonymous business owner suggested the BID should focus on building up its network of members as there is “no buy in at present”.
They suggested some funds are used to invest in hospitality to help bring people together in a positive way, and that the time could be used to canvas for ideas and thoughts and to deliver information to business owners.
One respondent suggested “a permanent board at the top of the street listing the shop names down George Street like Christopher Place has.”
An female business owner said she is not sure what the levy goes on and scored the BID a zero in terms of value for money. She said she feels her business is always vulnerable to crime.
A George Street retailer said he “struggles to identify any tangible benefit to our business from the BID levy,” adding that the road often feels “completely overlooked in favour of the main retail areas”.
He said: “We pay the same levy as everyone else, yet see little evidence of investment, promotion or support directed towards our part of the city centre.
“The BID’s activities are often poorly communicated, and it is difficult to understand exactly how the levy is being spent or what measurable return businesses are receiving.”
He gave them a score of one out of 10 for value for money for the levy payment and would like greater support and visibility for George Street businesses.
“The issue is whether the organisation is delivering meaningful value for levy payers.
“We see occasional marketing campaigns, but it is difficult to determine whether they generate any significant increase in footfall or trade for independent businesses such as ours.
“The installations are visually pleasant, but they often feel like superficial projects that do little to address the actual challenges facing local businesses.
“Safety is generally acceptable, although more visible support for businesses and a stronger focus on practical issues would be welcomed.
“Too many decisions appear to be made without meaningful consultation with the businesses that are funding the BID.”
Another business owner said: “There is a growing feeling among some businesses that the BID has become disconnected from the concerns of many levy payers.
“We are regularly asked to contribute financially, but struggle to see where the money is going or how it is benefiting our business.
“Areas such as George Street often feel forgotten while resources are concentrated elsewhere. Before asking businesses to support another term, the BID should be able to clearly demonstrate measurable results, greater transparency around spending, and a fairer distribution of attention across the city centre.”
The Maltings Shopping Centre manager Richard Marrett said: “We believe that Business Improvement Districts are highly effective, as demonstrated by numerous successful examples across the country. Regrettably however, we do not believe that St Albans BID is currently delivering the level of performance or value that it should.
“There is a lack of transparency regarding how levy funds are spent, and it is our understanding that a significant proportion of the levy is allocated to administrative costs rather than to tangible improvements that actually benefit businesses in the city centre. We are also concerned by the substantial level of funds being held in reserves, with no clear explanation as to why these monies are not being invested in projects and initiatives that deliver visible benefits to levy payers and the wider city centre.
“When the BID was established in 2016, it was intended to operate as an independent limited company representing the interests of levy payers. At that time, one of the principal concerns was that it might ultimately subsidise expenditure that should properly fall within the remit of St Albans City and District Council (SADC). Although benchmarks were put in place to prevent this, it appears that these concerns have now become a reality.
“As one of the larger levy payers, and as representatives of a substantial number of tenants who also contribute to the levy, we do not believe that we have received good value for money. We have raised these concerns with BID on numerous occasions but they have largely been ignored and no substantive action has been taken to address them.
“Before any renewal ballot takes place, we believe there should be a renewed commitment to meaningful engagement with levy payers, greater transparency over expenditure, improved efficiency in the use of levy funds, and full disclosure of accounts.
“These measures would help restore confidence and enable businesses to make an informed decision about the future of the BID.”
Manager of St Albans BID Vivien Cannon said: “We welcome the opportunity to respond to comments about the BID renewal and recognise that businesses will have different views and we take all feedback seriously.
“At its heart, the BID is about businesses coming together to invest in the success of St Albans city centre. By pooling and ringfencing funding, we can deliver projects, promotion and improvements that no single business could achieve alone, complementing the work of the council and other partners.
“Our focus is on making St Albans a vibrant, welcoming and successful place to visit, work and do business. Through events, destination marketing, business support, environmental improvements and city-wide promotions, we aim to increase footfall, attract visitors and support the local economy.
“Our promotion and marketing secures local and national press coverage and has achieved an estimated 580 pieces with a gross potential reach of c. 250 – 300 million: International 42, National 113, Regional /Local 425.”
(*Please note: Reach and readership data was not available for all publications and, without a dedicated media monitoring service in place, some coverage may not have been captured. The PR remit also evolved over the reporting period, with a greater focus on regional and local media in the earlier years.)
“We understand that not every initiative will feel equally relevant to every business, but our aim is always to strengthen the city centre as a whole. A thriving city centre creates a stronger and more attractive destination for everyone.
“The most recent recorded retail unit vacancy figures collected by SADC, as of March 31 2026 show a continuing downward trend in vacancies for Q4 October to December 2025 suggesting the investment that BID businesses make to the city through BID led activities demonstrates a vibrant and viable place to do business.
“We always welcome feedback on our websites and marketing platforms and strive to act quickly to correct any inaccuracies brought to our attention.
“Looking ahead, our vision is to build on St Albans’ reputation as a thriving city centre for independent businesses, hospitality and visitor experiences. We want to continue supporting businesses, enhancing the city environment, and creating the conditions for long-term success.
“The BID is ultimately about investing in the place we all share. We believe that partnership and collective action remain vital to the future prosperity of St Albans.”
