Hammersmith BID Marks 20 Years with Review

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Taking a look at five projects that have shaped the town centre

Hammersmith BID funded 'Plants Not Pollution' under Hammersmith Flyover

April 22, 2026

Hammersmith Business Improvement District (BID) is marking its 20th anniversary by highlighting five major achievements that it says have helped transform the town centre since the organisation was first established in 2006. The BID, which is funded by a levy on local businesses, has overseen £16 million of investment between 2006 and 2026, and it says a further £5 million pledged for the next five years.

The organisation says its work has focused on improving public spaces, supporting local traders, strengthening community connections and enhancing safety. Over two decades, the BID has delivered projects ranging from public-realm upgrades to major events and business-support schemes.

One of the BID’s flagship achievements is its Public Realm Vision for Hammersmith East, which sets out a long-term plan to redesign the area around the Lower Bus Station, Butterwick and the Flyover. The BID previously won a Place Management Award in 2016 for its Sustainable Drainage Systems on Talgarth Road, which “transformed Talgarth Road into a green corridor.”

The BID says this earlier work helped unlock new investment opportunities, including new planting on Butterwick funded by a local business in 2025 and new lighting under the flyover installed by Hammersmith & Fulham Council in 2026.

The BID’s Made in H&F initiative, launched in 2018, has provided a platform for local makers and small businesses. The project has taken several forms across the town centre and, in its current locations at the Broadway Centre and Livat Hammersmith, has generated “over £100,000 for traders, plus revenue reinvested back into the project.”

The Hammersmith Privilege Card, introduced in 2008, now has more than 18,000 users and has become a key tool for encouraging people to shop and spend locally. The scheme has evolved from a physical card to a digital version accessible on smartphones, with new offers added regularly.

The BID’s events programme has become a familiar part of Hammersmith’s cultural calendar. Its Big Screen, first launched in 2010, has hosted screenings of major sporting moments — from Andy Murray’s Wimbledon win in 2013 to the 2024 Olympics — as part of the annual Summer Festival. The BID says these events have “entertained hundreds of thousands of people” and helped raise the area’s profile.

The BID also highlights its long-running Business Crime Reduction Partnership, which has worked with the Metropolitan Police and local partners since 2006. It states that this collaboration has “evolved over time to respond to changing challenges,” with the aim of ensuring businesses feel supported and protected.

BID Director Livia Caruso said the anniversary was an opportunity to reflect on the organisation’s impact, describing the five highlighted achievements as “just a snapshot of the work delivered over the years.” She added that the BID remains “ambitious for Hammersmith” and committed to ensuring the town centre “continues to thrive as a place to do business, visit and enjoy.”

The 20th-anniversary celebrations began over Easter weekend with Row Fest, which featured a live screening of the Boat Race, family entertainment and free film showings.

The BID’s most recent ballot, held in October 2025, saw 92% of businesses vote in favour of renewal, representing 96% by rateable value on a 69% turnout.

While the BID points to two decades of investment and partnership working, Business Improvement Districts more broadly continue to attract debate. Supporters argue that BIDs deliver improvements that councils alone cannot fund, while critics note that levy-paying businesses — particularly smaller firms — may feel the financial burden during difficult trading periods. Others question how well BID priorities align with those of residents, given their business-led structure.

As Hammersmith BID enters its fifth term, the organisation faces the dual challenge of maintaining business support while demonstrating its value to the wider community it serves.

 

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