Businesses in Marble Arch team up to launch improvement district
Businesses in Marble Arch and Edgware Road have backed plans to invest £2.5m in sprucing up the west London area after launching a new business improvement district (BID).
Over 78 per cent of businesses, retailers, restaurant and hotels from Marble Arch and northern Park Lane voted in favour of setting up the new group to promote the neighbourhood at a formal ballot on Friday.
The BID, which includes 42 streets across the East and West of Edgware Road, will invest £2.5m over five years in improving the public area, boost trading conditions and to “reduce levels of anti-social behaviour” the new lobby group said in an announcement today.
This includes improving pedestrian routes and cycle paths, installing public art and plans to have uniformed staff to patrol the area at night to reassure visitors and help local shops and restaurants in dealing with incidents.
“Marble Arch’s heritage and appeal internationally and locally deserves to be matched by high quality public realm standards, place-making and business and visitor services,” Martin Ramskill, chairman of the Marble Arch BID and general manager at the Grosvenor Victoria Casino, said.
“We want to improve the environment and experience for residents, workers and visitors, and are thrilled to see our plans so strongly supported by local businesses, Westminster City Council and our partners,” he added.
The new BID is now the eighth in Westminster – including its Oxford Street peer the New West End Company – and will work with the council, the mayor of London and Transport for London to carry its plans.
Sir Edward Lister, London’s deputy mayor for planning, said: “This decision will be a great boost for the Marble Arch area, brilliantly positioned between Oxford Street, Marylebone and Mayfair, and Bayswater and Hyde Park. I am sure that this Business Improvement District will enhance this critical area of West End for residents, workers and visitors and help Marble Arch to become an even stronger driver of the capital’s economy.”