WeAreWaterloo BID expands to include LSBU campus and IWM

WeAreWaterloo is the new name for the Waterloo Quarter BID which funds extra local services and activities through a levy on business rates.

Businesses in North Lambeth first voted to establish the Waterloo Quarter BID a decade ago.

The BID expanded to cover part of Southwark in 2008 and added a further extension in 2011.

A total of 317 votes were cast in this year's ballot, with a turnout of 61 per cent, with 91 per cent of businesses (representing 88 per cent of rateable value voting yes to the proposals to continue WeAreWaterloo's work till 2021.

WeAreWaterloo will now expand north of Roupell Street to reach Stamford Street, with southern extensions to take in the Imperial War Museum and London South Bank University campus.

To the west, the BID will now encompass the railway arches under the Waterloo main line between Leake Street in the north and Lambeth Road in the south.

"Local businesses have given a strong statement of their support for WeAreWaterloo and our ambitious proposals for the next 5 years," said John Rushton, chair of WeAreWaterloo.

"Waterloo, like many areas of London, is experiencing rapid transformation and we will work hard at a local level to create opportunities out of that change and continue to make the area a desirable place to visit, to do business and to live."

Chief executive Helen Santer added: "We are very grateful for the support of local businesses and the faith they have put in us to deliver our ambitious plans for the area in the next five years.

"The increased level of investment gives us scope to ramp up our activity, continuing to focus on the delivery of quality services for our members, but also taking a broader look at the quality of the experience across the whole area and driving forward our vision for Waterloo. We're looking forward to getting started!"

New environmental projects in WeAreWaterloo's five-year plan include improvements to Emma Cons Gardens and a scheme to upgrade local walking routes such as Waterloo Road, Westminster Bridge Road, Cornwall Road and Leake Street.

The BID will also move its offices to the Urbanest building at the Westminster Bridge Road junction where a new business incubator is planned.

The annual Waterloo Food Festival will also be relaunched with a new format.