Love Wimbledon BID Ballot 2026

A Business Improvement District (BID) is a defined area where local businesses work together – and invest collectively – to improve their trading environment.

In a BID like Love Wimbledon, eligible businesses vote on whether to introduce (or renew) a small levy. This funding is then ring-fenced and reinvested directly into the area, supporting initiatives that benefit local businesses.

BIDs are business-led and business-driven, meaning local organisations decide the priorities and how funding is spent.

All businesses and organisations that pay business rates within the Love Wimbledon BID area are eligible to vote in the BID ballot.

This includes organisations, such as retailers and shops, restaurants, cafés and hospitality venues, offices and corporate occupiers and property owners who are liable for business rates.

Each eligible business is entitled to one vote per hereditament (business premises), ensuring that all ratepayers have a say in whether the BID continues.

The Love Wimbledon BID is funded through a BID levy, which is a small, mandatory contribution paid by eligible businesses within the BID area.

The BID levy is typically calculated as a percentage of a business’s rateable value and is only introduced if the majority of businesses vote in favour of the BID during the ballot.

What makes the BID levy different from other business costs is that it is ring-fenced –meaning all funds raised are reinvested directly into Wimbledon town centre, rather than going to central government or being used elsewhere.

The BID ballot consultation is a period of engagement with local businesses ahead of the BID renewal vote.

Because a Business Improvement District (BID) can only operate for a maximum of five years, it must undergo a renewal process to continue. This begins with a consultation, where Love Wimbledon gathers feedback from levy-paying businesses across the BID area.

This feedback is used to develop a new business plan that reflects the needs and ambitions of Love Wimbledon’s business community.

Following the consultation, all eligible businesses are invited to vote in the BID ballot. The outcome of that vote determines whether Love Wimbledon continues for another term.

We will consult with local businesses through a range of channels to ensure as many voices as possible are heard.

As part of the consultation process, businesses will receive a survey by email at the end of April. This provides an opportunity to share feedback on current BID activities and highlight future priorities. Let us know if you would prefer a paper copy of the survey by emailing info@lovewimbledon.org.

In addition, we will host consultation events where businesses can learn more and share their views. We will also visit businesses one-to-one to gather direct feedback and answer any questions.

All survey responses are used to help shape Love Wimbledon’s business plan for the next BID term (2027–2032).

The feedback gathered from businesses plays a vital role in determining the priorities, projects and services that will be delivered over the next five years – ensuring the BID reflects the real needs of the local business community.

All responses are treated as strictly private and confidential. Individual feedback is never shared publicly; instead, insights are combined and analysed to inform the overall direction of the BID.

By taking part in the survey, businesses directly influence how future investment is used to support Wimbledon town centre.

The Love Wimbledon BID business plan – also known as the BID proposal – is a document that sets out the priorities and vision for the next five-year term.

It outlines the key improvements businesses want to see in the area, the projects and services the BID will deliver and how the BID will be managed, governed and operated.

The business plan is shaped directly by feedback from local businesses during the consultation process, ensuring it reflects the needs and ambitions of Wimbledon’s business community.

This plan is then used as the basis for the BID ballot, helping businesses make an informed decision on whether to support the BID for the next term.

If you have any questions about the Love Wimbledon BID, the consultation or the ballot process, please get in contact on 02086192012 or info@lovewimbledon.org