Derby’s Cathedral Quarter BID celebrates its second anniversary in March 2010 with a number of successes under its belt and exciting plans in the pipeline.

Plans for activity in the third year were discussed at a meeting attended by more than 60 local businesses at the Jury’s Inn.  They are currently being finalised by the BID’s Management Group to build on the successes achieved over the past year and to take advantage of the positive tide in the area including an increase in footfall trends, a net gain in businesses moving to the area and many businesses reporting their best sales ever in the past few months.

The Cathedral Quarter incorporates just over 380 businesses in an area bounded by the inner ring road, the River Derwent, Albert Street, Victoria Street and Friar Gate who pay a proportion of their rateable value into the BID and which accounted for the majority of the £180,000 second year budget.

The Cathedral Quarter Company was set up as a not for profit company in March 2008 to boost the performance and profitability of businesses in the area through activities agreed in the business plan.

Strategic direction is determined by the Board and the activities are driven forward by a management group and then five working groups – all made up of representatives from local businesses who volunteer their time – who work on activities under the five priorities of increasing awareness, improving access, extending length of stay, improving safety and security and increasing external investment.

Footfall has also increased in the Cathedral Quarter by 2% between January to December 2009 compared to 2008 whereas the national picture for towns and cities as a whole across the country have seen a decline in footfall by over 6%.

Over the past two years, 89 new businesses have moved into the Cathedral Quarter which is a net gain 19 businesses in the area and the last retail survey by commercial property agents FHP have highlighted that the Cathedral Quarter has a 13.17% vacancy rate – which was below the 15% national average and below other parts of the city.

The Cathedral Quarter is now an established brand and is actively targeting the relatively wealth catchment area.  Derby has the highest average salary in the UK outside London and a higher than average wealthy catchment area.  CACI research also highlights that the Cathedral Quarter has the largest proportion of premium brand retailers in the city.

Key activity in the past year has included:

·         The launch of the “I work in the Cathedral Quarter” loyalty card to employees of businesses in the area with cards issued to more than half the 3,500-strong workforce and more than 50 businesses offering discounts

·         The development and upgrading of the website www.derbycathedralquarter.co.uk with new features including areas publicising job opportunities, commercial property for sale or lease, capacity for businesses to include on-line vouchers and more options for users to search for businesses

·         The Cathedral Quarter has had a high profile in major attractions in the area including Festé 2009 which attracted 25,000 visitors to the area over three days, the Cathedral Quarter Wheel, branded with the BID identity, which attracted more than 30,000 visitors throughout September and October 2009 and the unique Christmas playground

·         Signage to the area has been improved and local multi storey car-parks now display the Cathedral Quarter branding

·         The further development of the Cathedral Quarter’s Rangers who are ambassadors for the area – meeting and greeting visitors and front line liaison with businesses, who have attended county wide events and interacted with more than 10,000 individual members of the public

·         Major regional advertising campaigns and promotions

·         Further improvements to the street scene and pedestrian movement in the area with contemporary planters and hanging topiary balls

·         New and additional Christmas lights

·         Representation of the area at major commercial property exhibitions targeting property investors and developers and significant partnership work is underway with landlords and commercial property agents to achieve a desirable tenant mix in the area

Outline plans for the coming year include:

·         Developing a visitor loyalty scheme

·         Building the profiles of professional services businesses and the evening economy

·         Subsidised or free parking during targeted periods

·         Establishing information points and audio tours

·         Additional floral displays and landscaping schemes

·         Improved toilet provision

·         Developing the use of vacant premises by local artists

·         Improved signage and branding in the area

Martin Langsdale, Chair of the Cathedral Quarter Management Group explained: “The main priority for the BID’s first two years has been prudent financial management to ensure that investment in projects reap maximum rewards for the Cathedral Quarter and the businesses who operate here.

 “Our vision when setting up the BID was to establish the Cathedral Quarter as a destination which offers specialist quality retail, a diverse range of quality leisure and cultural activity and established respected professional services in an attractive historical setting.

“We have made some significant inroads in all the five priority areas to start to achieve this vision and have some very exciting plans for this, our third year.

“The combination of falling vacancies and rising footfall figures has been particularly welcome news for the Cathedral Quarter.

 “This is despite the economic situation which has obviously impacted greatly on the retail sector and the floor space limitations of the older historic properties that are available in the Cathedral Quarter.

“Another positive factor has been calibre of the new businesses that have been attracted into the Cathedral Quarter, which continue to ensure that we are not a faceless high street and have contributed to the individual, diverse and inspiring qualities of the area.

“A great deal has been achieved in a short space of time but we are not sitting back and the plans for next year are even more ambitious.

“Times are obviously tough for businesses in this economic climate but most agree that they would be suffering even more if we had not gone ahead with the BID and that they are by and large benefiting from the increased profile that the Cathedral Quarter now has.

“Our brand values sum up the special qualities of the Cathedral Quarter: individual, inspiring and diverse – a place with soul.

“Cathedral Quarter businesses are largely independently owned who put customer service at the top of the agenda.  Improvements to the area therefore benefit not only the businesses themselves but also the people who visit this area.”

For more information about the businesses and events in the Cathedral Quarter visit www.derbycathedralquarter.co.uk

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