By Lesley Walsh
BANGOR Chamber of Commerce has withdrawn its support for a major business venture tipped as a ‘vital’ regeneration initiative, amid concerns over the rising ‘cost of doing business’.
Chamber members have voted unanimously to reject the creation of a Business Improvement District (BID) in the city over the levies the scheme would inflict on businesses on top of what are viewed as excessive annual rates.
The Chamber disputed the perception that all local enterprises welcomed the BID, adding that its timing – coming at a stage of an ’exciting period of regeneration and investment, with transformational projects already underway’ – was just not right.
A BID is a not-for-profit collaboration of firms brought together to drive footfall and revenue, raising money to fund projects that benefit those businesses.
Main Street, High Street, Quay Street, Queen’s Parade, Hamilton Road, Abbey Street and the areas bordering Ward Park and Castle Park were earmarked as the BID location.
The fact that this is being proposed against the backdrop of ‘increasing operational costs, rising employment costs and ongoing economic uncertainty’ makes it too unpalatable for Chamber members.
Bangor’s BID secured a total of £80,000 from the Department for Communities and Ards and North Down Council, prompting the establishment of a steering group.
A ballot of businesses taken in early 2026 by the BID group showed that of the more than 10% of 500 eligible businesses polled, 67% were strongly supportive – with 21% undecided.
However, revealing its rejection of the BID, the Chamber issued a statement outlining the sticking points it feels it just can’t swallow.
“Following careful consideration with members and the board, Bangor Chamber of Commerce has taken the decision to withdraw its support for the proposed Business Improvement District (BID) in Bangor.”
Stating that despite recent press headlines that all businesses were behind the scheme, the Chamber said that perception did not ‘fully reflect the range of views’ of the wider business community who had a range of ’significant concerns’.
It said that though it recognised the efforts of those involved in developing the BID proposal and ‘shares their ambition to see Bangor continue to prosper’, it ‘concluded that the timing is not right for the introduction of a BID in the city’.
“Bangor is entering an exciting period of regeneration and investment, with transformational projects already underway. At the same time, many businesses continue to face significant challenges, including increasing operational costs, rising employment costs and ongoing economic uncertainty.”
“The Chamber believes that the immediate priority should be to reduce the financial burden on businesses and create the conditions that encourage investment, growth and job creation.”
Highlighting its longstanding campaign to ‘actively lobby for a reduction in commercial rates and for measures that lower the cost of doing business’, the Chamber said ‘supporting the introduction of an additional mandatory levy through a BID would be inconsistent with that long-standing position’.
“At a time when many businesses are already under pressure, the Chamber believes efforts should be focused on reducing costs rather than increasing them.”
