Farebrother partner Alistair Subba Row (pictured) is to be the next chairman of the Holborn Business Partnership (HBP), one of London’s business improvement districts (BIDs).
He will replace Nabarro Nathanson partner Geoffrey Lander, who is leaving the law firm to set up his own outsourcing company, TriCore.
Subba Row is a founding partner of HBP and is a member of its executive committee.
For two years, he has chaired the HBP board that is responsible for overseeing projects and finance.
Subba Row noted: “With BID legislation expected this autumn, the goal of reaching full BID status by April 2004 is a very real possibility.
Pilot BIDs were introduced to the UK two years ago, based on a US model under which improvements to a local area are funded through an additional levy on business rates.
In the US, landlords pay the additional levy unlike in the UK, where occupiers pay it.
The BPF, the RICS, the British Retail Consortium, London First and the Central London Partnership have unsuccessfully lobbied the government to change the legislation so that landlords are compelled to pay.
The Holborn Business Partnership, along with four other BIDs set up by the Circle Initiative, receives £4.6m of Single Regeneration Budget funding from the London Development Agency.
References: EGi News 31/03/03
