Wood Green BID

We interview Harry Rashid, Chair of Wood Green Business Improvement District (BID)

(R) Harry Rashid - Chair and (L) Sohail Ali - Vice-Chair

Wood Green has been a focal point of regeneration in Haringey in recent years, and is now a Business Improvement District (BID). The Green Lanes Special Edition spoke to Harry Rashid – who chairs the Wood Green BID – to learn more about its impact.

What is the Wood Green BID and how does it work? 

The Wood Green BID is a Business Improvement District, what that means is that businesses come together in a specified area, and work towards regenerating the area, making it more business friendly, and better for the community.

The BID asks businesses about issues affecting the area through a survey and develops a plan to address them. Participating businesses then vote to approve the plan.

The BID is funded by a special levy collected from these businesses. We pay Haringey Council to collect the levy for us on our behalf through their business rates team. The money is then ringfenced for improving the area.

How have businesses and residents benefited from the BID?

We have supported members through difficult times. During the pandemic for example, we helped them re-open safely, by providing free packs with resources like social distancing stickers. We also supported them to apply for government grants.

We set up regular networking events for them meet up, and have brought in advisors to show them how to save on utilities. We organise family fun days for the community too, and are working on a project called Eat Wood Green, which involves growing and serving organic food locally.

We were also able to help open a youth centre on the high street.

How is the BID supporting the Haringey Community Safety and Hate Crime Strategy?

Safety, security and cleanliness have been priorities for our businesses since our initial surveys.

So, we have set up a team of rangers who patrol the area, and support the police and businesses around antisocial behaviour. The businesses and rangers have radios to warn each other about shoplifters. We’ve developed an app for businesses to upload photos of the perpetrators too. Police have access as well, and it has meant serial offenders have been highlighted.

We also work with the council to clean up the road and have introduced an electric vehicle that collects rubbish and cleans bins.

Can Wood Green BID help Green Lanes become a BID too?

We could help to set up the initial survey and consultation for Green Lanes. We could also extend the Wood Green BID area to Green Lanes, just like we did with Turnpike Lane. We incorporated Turnpike Lane into the Wood Green BID before, but made sure the area still makes its own decisions and keeps its unique identity. It could be much the same with Green Lanes, and that street’s special character too, but in addition to that, Green Lanes traders would be able to use our resources as well, such as management support and our office space. We’d be delighted to work together!