If you’ve visited Putney then you will have experienced Positively Putney; from community trails, festive lights, planting to business support the work of Positively Putney BID is wide ranging. This autumn, local businesses will vote on whether the organisation continues for another five years.
What is Positively Putney?
Positively Putney is a Business Improvement District (BID). It’s a not-for-profit funded by levy paid by local businesses, and its aim is to improve the town centre as a place to work, shop, eat and spend time. Its work is additional to what Wandsworth Council already provides. It doesn’t replace council services.
Since it launched in 2017, it has represented around 400 businesses across Putney town centre, and its investment in the area has now reached £3 million.
Positively Putney is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors representing a broad range of sectors and businesses from across the BID area. The board, oversees financial management, governance, strategic direction and delivery perfromance. The Board meets at least once a quarter.
What has Positively Putney delivered?
- A cleaner, greener town centre. Around 20,000m² of pavement has been pressure washed every year, and the number of hanging baskets grew from 26 to 40 in 2026. There are also tiered planters, two parklets and new festive for Christmas 2025.
- Safety in the town centre. Businesses share intelligence to prevent shoplifting, enable arrests and ensure safety of the town. Pubwatch meet every quarter to exchange intel and talk with the police. Putney Street Angels have supported people on Friday late nights since April 2024.
- Community events. These include Halloween Trick or Treat Trail, the Ice Sculpture Trail, Amazing August, the Christmas Switch-On, outdoor cinema, Platinum Jubilee, Coronation and Summer of Sport activities, all providing free activities.
- Support for local businesses. This includes trade waste discounts, training and networking, and the popular Prefer Putney employee discount card.
What residents say
The events are clearly popular with local families:
“Thank you to everyone involved. Putney trick or treat is a highlight for my children and it’s always so nice when you go and people recognise your children.”
Comment on Positively Putney socials, October 2025
“Just a big thank you in general – everything Positively Putney does makes Putney worth living in.”
Comment on Positively Putney socials, November 2025
What businesses say
“Thank you for all the wonderful work Positively Putney BID has done to improve the area outside our practice. The gardeners have transformed the space with beautiful planting, creating a brighter and more welcoming environment.”
Putney Mead Medical Practice
“Pubwatch and Shopwatch have had a huge impact on our business. The information sharing coordinated by Positively Putney has reduced incidents, strengthened security and created a real ‘barred from one, barred from all’ culture.”
Ben Ife, Prince of Wales
“As an independent business owner in Putney, the support of the Putney BID has been invaluable. Their consistent work to drive local footfall, keep the town centre vibrant, and organise community events… brings a fantastic influx of customers directly into Putney.”
Christine Hernar, Ben & Lola
What’s next: BID3, 2027 to 2032
The business plan for the next five years focuses on four priorities
- Destination Putney: marketing, events and activities that bring people into the town centre, including the events residents already know, plus new ones.
- Streetscene: more planting, regular pavement cleaning, festive lighting, better waste and recycling, and working with partners on the Embankment and riverside.
- Safe & Secure: continued Pubwatch and Business Watch, uniformed and undercover security, the Street Angels, and work towards an accredited Business Crime Reduction Partnership.
- Better for Business: support, savings, training and a strong voice for Putney’s businesses on planning, transport and regeneration.
The plan proposes a slight extension to the BID boundary, which would bring in around 470 businesses. The BID levy would be 1.5% of a businesses’s rateable value. The budget is around £500,000 a year, totalling £2.5 million over the five years
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The ballot
Eligible businesses will receive their ballot papers by post from 6th of October. Voting closes at 5pm on 5th of November, and the result will be announced on 6 November. For the BID to continue, more businesses must vote yes than no, and the yes votes must also represent a greater total rateable value than the no votes.
If the ballot succeeds, the third term begins on 1 April 2027. If it doesn’t, the BID ends on 31 March 2027, its projects and services stop, and no alternative funding is in place to replace them.
Residents do not get a vote, but you can talk to your favourite local businesses about what the BID means to them. To read the full plan, click here
