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BID: Willow Lane Trading Estate
Willow Lane Industrial Estate is the largest
trading estate in Merton and is one of the largest
concentrations of businesses and employment in
the borough - with over 200 companies employing
over 2,500 people.The Estate is the main location
for the borough’s manufacturing, construction and
environmental companies - including many
advanced manufacturing companies serving
international markets.
The businesses on the Willow Lane Trading Estate
voted to establish a Business Improvement District
(BID) with effect from 1 June 2009 for a period of five
years. The businesses agreed to pay a BID levy based
on their rateable value to invest in improvements that
will enhance the commercial and trading environment
of the estate. Willow BID Ltd was formed and
administers the activities in accordance with the BID
proposal. This is a programme of activities, services
and projects in the interests of the businesses.
The Board of Directors comprises of business owners
from the estate who appoint an Estate Co-ordinator to
manage the day to day running of the business and
implementation of the BID proposal.
Merton Council is one of the main partners of Willow
BID and has signed up to a Baseline of Services
Agreement for the duration of five years - and
undertakes to continue the same level of Council
services to the Estate as it was providing prior to
the establishment of the BID.
The priority of the businesses is security and the
BID levy has funded additional CCTV cameras and
upgrade of monitoring systems - the CCTV coverage
has been particularly successful in reducing the
incidents of fly tipping.
To date Willow BID has successfully lobbied to have a
road, once closed, reopened and is developing a new
website that aims to attract new businesses to the
estate, supported by futureMerton.
In addition the Willow BID has been successful in
obtaining additional funding from Merton Council for
the website, a wayfinding project - to improve
direction / finding on the estate - and, also, match
funding in a competitive bid funding process from TfL,
again, for the wayfinding project.
Willow Lane BID also work closely with Merton’s Safer
Neighbourhood Team, Merton Chamber of Commerce
and the Environment Agency whose activities help the
environment standards on the estate.
Businesses on the estate have the BID looking after
their collective interests and, as a result, Willow Lane
is The Place for Business.
Please contact Willow BID Ltd with any enquiries on
020 8274 3323
, visit