A potential Business Improvement District for Bangor city centre in Northern Ireland.
Welcome to the website for the new proposed Business Improvement District (BID) for Bangor, County Down. Our aim is to work in partnership with businesses in the city centre to develop a plan that will create a better Bangor for businesses, shoppers, visitors, and residents.
Bangor has undergone many changes since the establishment of Bangor Abbey in the 6th century. The city has enjoyed periods as a thriving port, a hub for the linen industry, and more recently, as a popular seaside resort. Investment in entertainment, hospitality, and retail sustained a lively city centre, with attractions and events that drew residents and visitors throughout the year.
Like many coastal cities, Bangor has faced economic challenges in recent decades: shifting tourism patterns, underinvestment in key sites, and pressures on retail and leisure have left parts of the city centre struggling. However, long-awaited regeneration sites along the seafront are now gaining real momentum, signalling a new chapter in Bangor’s evolution.
A group of local traders have got together to develop a proposal for a Business Improvement District (BID) for Bangor city centre. The BID aims to look forward, not back — creating a vibrant, resilient city centre that reflects the realities of doing business in 2026. Over the coming year, we will work with local businesses to deliver a proposal for practical improvements that can enhance trading conditions, increase footfall, and make Bangor an even more attractive place to visit, work, and invest.
We have created an outline area for a BID and set up a steering group that represents different sectors, including arts, hospitality, retail, transport and leisure.
There are more than 700 businesses in central Bangor, most of them small independents run by passionate local entrepreneurs. A BID can help support traders by delivering a range of benefits. Examples from existing successful BIDs include:
Our goal is to write a proposal over the coming year that will describe the projects and services the BID would deliver, along with information on potential impacts and how we will measure effectiveness. This proposal will then be put to a ballot of non-domestic rate payers within the BID area.
The BID is financed through a levy usually set between 1.5 – 2% of the rateable value of the business property. We estimate over half of eligible businesses in Bangor will pay less than £200 per year, that’s around £10 or £20 per month for a fantastic range of benefits.
Funds raised through the BID stay in Bangor and are invested directly into projects and services that benefit local businesses. The BID will be a clear plan of action agreed with local businesses, and transparent monitoring and reporting will ensure everyone can see the impact of their investment.
The BID will also work alongside other stakeholders to ensure the Waterfront Regeneration delivers for everyone who works in, lives in or visits Bangor City centre.
