2021-2026: Planning for the future
Theme 1: Safeguarding
the future of Watford
Influencing and place shaping will be at the very heart of everything the BID does. It reinforces the BID’s
position with other partners and stakeholders, and the role of the BID in shaping and influencing how
Watford will look in the next five to 15 years.
Influencing growth and development across the town and encouraging
entrepreneurship
We will:
- Monitor and maintain a vacancy list for the BID area and identify market gaps
- Meet with agents and the Council every six months, to monitor trends, and identify hard to shift units and work on the concept of pop-up units and flexible workspace, with ‘in/out’ rental options
- Represent the interest of our businesses, the need to adapt, and maintain good and clear communication with the people who use the town
- Circulate information on key planning applications and consult with the Board to ensure a full and balanced commentary is presented
Supporting sustainable transport, and improving the town’s infrastructure
- Continue to push for a sustainable transport interchange in the town centre, improvements to the High Street, with improvements to Watford High Street Station and improved access to nearby Waterfields Retail Park
- Continue discussions with partners, about a range of sustainable transport proposals for the town
- Work with the district and county councils to ensure commercial, consumer and business interests are represented in any discussions regarding the town’s future and future developments
“It is clear that multifunctional town centres are on the rise and we now have the opportunity to accelerate this to meet the challenge of bringing back into productive use, redundant retail space.”
Mark Robinson, chair of High Streets Task Force
Understanding the needs of our communities
We recognise Watford’s local communities are at the heart of the town’s future success – it is their confidence and support for Watford which will help the town bounce back fully.
“Watford BID has been incredibly supportive of our charity Home-Start both with providing funding and an introduction to other businesses in Watford. Their grant enabled us to create a confidential space for us to meet with volunteers and families
we provide services for. More recently their support meant we could invest in the resources we needed to begin to return to our charitable activities, safely, minimising the risks of transmitting COVID-19.”
Emma Power, CEO. Home-Start
Watford & Three Rivers
We will:
- Consult with local resident groups, keeping them fully informed of developments and plans for Watford
- Support local community groups efforts in utilising redundant space in the town in a creative and innovative way
- Work with the Elected Mayor, the councils and utilise local consultations to inform communication and planning
- Work with the local cultural leaders, community leaders and religious leaders to reach our broader communities, to ensure as many people as possible are aware of Watford’s offer, both socially and economically
In a new review of the high street titled Build, Back, Better, Bill Grimsey has recommended high streets take on a
“massive shift in power” away from central government, instead empowering local communities to develop their high streets. He argues that for town centres and
high streets to thrive after COVID-19, they will need to rediscover their community purpose.
“Faced with the huge challenge of rebuilding our high streets, we are presented with a golden opportunity to
repair their neglected social fabric, lead a values-led period of social renewal and deliver lasting change.”
Encouraging business development and networking
We will:
- Design a series of business development and networking events which will cover themes such as: finance/legal; marketing; social media; procurement; international trade; managing growth and wellness/mindset
- In Year 2 the Chamber will deliver ‘hub’ events and an extension of the Watford Business Festival. Levy payers and their employees will be given priority access to these events and the opportunity to host events and pitch their own business
Championing the third sector and charities
We will:
- Link businesses with support agencies and charities as part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities; the priority will be to support local services and charities first
- Encourage individual businesses to become a local charity advocate or champion
Open to new ideas and staying ahead of
the game
We will:
- Continue to ensure that all business views are represented at a national level
- Continue to participate in national discussions on your behalf and inform submissions to central government across a range of topics, including the Business Rate Review and the state of the High Street
- Embrace new ideas and undertake imaginative and innovative projects that will make Watford an attractive destination. The BID will however always manage the risk to ensure the interests of levy payers remain the top priority
- Continue to be recognised as one of the Country’s highest performing BIDs, with Watford being recognised as a centre for excellence
- Learn as much as possible about the BID industry and lessons from other BIDs to ensure we deliver the best service we can
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