About the BID / FAQs

View Draft Plan

Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have been operating across business parks, industrial estates, town and city centres for more than two decades, enabling business leaders to deliver real change within their business environments.

There are currently 350 BIDs across the UK, generating more than £170 million in private‑sector‑led investment. In Cheshire and Merseyside, 14 BIDs are currently in operation.

Origin – Ellesmere Port

Ellesmere Port is entering a once in a generation period of transformation driven by major national programmes, infrastructure upgrades, and long-term investment.

  • £5billion Hynet investment at the former Stanlow Oil Refinery which will lead to the creation of 1000+ local jobs and the creation of a rich global talent pool of green jobs in Ellemere Port.
  • £14million Town Centre Regeneration.
  • £20million Pride in Place investment from Government into the heart of Ellesmere Ports residential communities.
  • £650million Devolution Deal for Cheshire & Warrington bring Whitehall powers to a new combined authority and Cheshire & Warrington Mayor.
  • Plans and investment for new rail links, cycling and walking strategies

“This draft proposal for a £2.2million Business Improvement District seeks to ensure that businesses have a strong, connected voice to ensure that the voice of business is reflected in improvements planned for the next decade”

The Proposed BID Area

How the Business Improvement District Works

The proposal for a BID for the industrial areas of Ellesmere Port identified in the map above will require approval from a majority of business from a formal ballot conducted by Cheshire West and Chester Council.

All business premises in the proposed BID area will receive a ballot paper in September / October 2026 with which to approve or reject the proposal for the BID. Should a majority approve, the BID would start in 2027, and a board of representative businesses would be formed to oversee the investment.

Vote

  • All premises with a rateable value greater than or equal to £12k will receive a vote.
  • If a majority vote in favour of the BID (by number and rateable value) the BID is approved for a 5 year period.

BID Board

  • Businesses within the Origin BID area form a representative Board to govern the BID.
  • The BID Board includes representation from organisations across the Origin BID area.

Invest, Benefit, Report

  • The BID Board guides and directs the BID team who are responsible for the delivery of the BID 5 year business plan.
  • New projects and services agreed by the business-led BID Board are commissioned in line with the BID proposal.
  • The impact and success of the BID is reported to businesses.

Who has led the development of this plan for a BID?

A group of private sector businesses from across Ellesmere Port have shaped and influenced this proposal for a BID. This group have been supported by independent, not for profit charity Groundwork. Groundwork are Business Improvement Districts specialists with 20 years’ experience supporting business communities like Origin.

Brimoto, Canal and River Trust, Cybrand Aec Limited, D & P Coatings Limited, Dieblast Systems, EET Fuels, Formula International Carriers Limited, Laker Vent Engineering Ltd, Parkers Travel Ltd, Port Fuels Ltd, Stellantis NV, Survitec Group Ltd, TTE Training Ltd, UIL Blending Solutions Ltd, Cheshire West and Chester Council

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Business Improvement District (BID)?
  • The BID is a unique opportunity for businesses across Ellesmere Port’s key industrial and business park location to take a lead in the management and improvement of their environments.
Where does the investment come from?
  • The investment will principally come from an additional levy (1.25% of premises rateable value) paid by each premises (hereditament) in the BID area.
  • Together this will raise an investment of £2.2 million+ over 5 years, which we expect will lever additional funding from a range of sources.
How is this different to business rates?
  • The BID levy is separate from your business rates. Business rates are a statutory local tax levied to fund expenditure by local and national government. Businesses have no direct control over how these funds are spent.
  • The BID levies once collected will be ring-fenced, then paid over to the BID accountable body and invested in specific projects and services identified in the final BID Business Plan (available in September 2026). The BID funds are all invested under the direction of the business led BID Board of BID levy payers from across the BID area.
Additional investment led by the private sector
  • The BID could generate £2.2 of new investment into the area between 2027 and 2032
  • This investment will be delivered through the Origin BID Board of BID levy payers, who will be answerable to the wider business community who fund the BID.
  • The £2.2million investment will only be made in projects and services that exceed the statutory responsibilities of Cheshire West and Chester Council, the BID will not back fill local authority services.
Who decides if the BID is to be introduced?
  • All eligible premises will be able to take part in a 28-day postal ballot to approve or reject the proposal for a BID in Autumn / Winter 2026.
  • If a majority vote in favour of the proposal from the number of votes cast, and this represents a majority in level of rateable value from votes cast in favour of approving the proposal, the successor BID will come into operation from 2027, when all premises will pay the annual levy towards the BID.
Where do Business Improvement Districts already operate?
  • Business Improvement Districts operate in Cheshire and Merseyside on Winsford Industrial Estate, Gadbrook Park, Astmoor Industrial Estate and Sealand / West Chester Employment Park.
  • The Winsford Industrial Estate BID has been operating for nearly 20 where business recently voted with a 99% majority in favour to deliver another 5-year investment.

Guiding principles for the BID

“Representing the views and interests of the business community – Working in the best interests of the Origin businesses”

The Origin BID will be governed by a business-led partnership which will deliver the projects and services identified by you,
the business community of the estate, during the development of this BID proposal.

The BID will be democratic, open and transparent and will always be representative of all its members

The BID will be proactive in communicating and reporting to levy payers

The BID will be robustly managed and governed to ensure it acts with integrity and to the highest industry standards

All eligible businesses and organisations who are included in the BID area will have the opportunity to put forward a representative as a BID Board member.

The BID will ensure that rigorous procedures are used to ensure best practice and value for money in the delivery of the projects and services contained in the BID proposal

All businesses and organisations who form the BID will be encouraged to act as ambassadors for Origin

How this this development project funded?  

The Ellesmere Port / Origin BID Development Project is managed by Groundwork CLM

Supported by Cheshire West and Chester Council and funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund