The WorthingBID

The WorthingBID will provide over £1million of investment on additional services to deliver improvements to Worthing Town Centre and its trading environment. Through consultation with the business community the focus of the WorthingBID will be:

a cleaner and well maintained town centre
a safe and welcoming town centre
a vibrant and well-marketed town centre

To achieve these improvements businesses with a rateable value of more than £10,000 will agree to a 1% levy for a 5 year period. The levy will be collected with the business rates but will be ring fenced and spent locally on additional services within the BID area.

BIDs for Worthing

Worthing is competing against the large enclosed Shopping Centres, such as Churchill Square, County Mall and Swan Walk. These centres are clean, well maintained, safe and welcoming but to achieve this each trader pays a contribution to the costs via a service charge. The BID levy will work in a similar way to a service charge, it will enable Worthing to compete more effectively with Shopping Centres and other towns by providing visitors with an enjoyable experience that will encourage people to return and enable the town to actively promote itself to a wide range of potential customers.

Worthing is not just about one business. The reason that our customers choose to visit the town is to enjoy the whole offer.

It is important to ensure that the visitor experience is memorable and encourages repeat visits. If everyone works together this can be achieved and Worthing can continue to be a thriving, vibrant and interesting town centre"

Chris Spratt Chairman of the Worthing Town Centre Initiative