Businesses in Milton Keynes vote yes on renewing MyMiltonKeynes BID

Businesses across Central Milton Keynes have voted overwhelmingly in favour of renewing MyMiltonKeynes Business Improvement District (BID) for a third, five-year term.

Ballots saw 97% of voters in favour of continuing the BID program, which is funded by a BID levy on all eligible city centre businesses.

The results secures over £9 million of additional investment into Milton Keynes City Centre between 2027 and 2032, enabling the BID to continue delivering projects, services and initiatives designed to strengthen the area and help businesses benefit from future growth opportunities.

Support represented 98% of total rateable value cast. Turnout reached 48% – the highest participation rate achieved across MyMiltonKeynes’ three BID ballots and substantially ahead of the previous turnout of 30%.

The successful result follows the launch of the BID’s Business Plan, Milton Keynes City Centre: Investing Together 2027–2032, which sets out a programme of investment focused on four priorities:

• Enhance – creating a cleaner, safer and more attractive city centre.
• Experience – creating a vibrant and compelling city centre destination.
• Shape – influencing and delivering the future of Milton Keynes City Centre.
• Connection – building a stronger and more connected business community.

Over the next five years, investment will continue to support visible city centre services such as security patrols, public realm improvements and festive lighting, while also strengthening destination marketing, major events, business insight, accessibility initiatives and place making projects designed to help businesses benefit from future investment and growth opportunities.

Jill Farnsworth CEO said, “While this result provides welcome reassurance that the work we do is valued, it also reflects a shared belief that Milton Keynes is on the cusp of something big. We can all feel it and it’s exciting. The city is growing and the opportunity is real, but it won’t happen by accident. This result means we can continue building momentum and making sure Milton Keynes City Centre is ready to benefit from what comes next. Massive thank you to every business that supported us with a yes vote. We’re incredibly excited about the future.

MyMiltonKeynes is governed by a Board comprising volunteer representatives from across the different business sectors operating within Milton Keynes City Centre, led by an independent volunteer Chair. Together they set the strategic direction of the Company and oversee delivery of the BID Business Plan.

Diane Wehrle, chair of the MyMiltonKeynes BID Board, added, “This is a tremendously positive result and a clear endorsement of both the work undertaken over the last ten years and the ambitions set out for the next five. The Board would like to thank every business that took the time to participate in the ballot process. Collective investment has already delivered a great deal for Milton Keynes City Centre and this result gives us the confidence and mandate to continue building on that success.”

Over the coming months, MyMiltonKeynes BID will begin preparing for delivery of its new Business Plan while continuing to deliver the current programme through to the start of the new term in June 2027.