Central business district

A central business district (CBD) is the commercial and business centre of a city. In larger cities, it is often synonymous with the city's "financial district". Geographically, it often coincides with the "city centre" or "downtown", but the two concepts are separate: many cities have a central business district located away from its commercial or cultural city centre or downtown. Both the CBD and the city centre or downtown may also coincide with the central activities district.

A city's CBD is usually typified by a concentration of retail and office buildings. The CBD usually has an urban density higher than the surrounding districts of the city, and is often the location of the tallest buildings in the city.

The CBD is often also the "city centre" or "downtown", but this is also often not the case. Midtown Manhattan is the largest central business district in New York City and in the Western Hemisphere; yet Lower Manhattan, commonly referred to as Downtown Manhattan, actually represents the second largest distinct CBD in New York City and is geographically situated south of Midtown. For example, London's "city centre" is usually regarded as encompassing the historic City of London and the medieval City of Westminster, whereas the City of London and the transformed Docklands area are regarded as its two CBDs. Mexico City also has a historic city centre, the colonial-era Centro Histórico, along with two CBDs: the mid-late 20th century Paseo de la Reforma - Polanco, and the new Santa Fe. In Taipei, Taiwan, the area around its main railway station is regarded as the historic city centre while the Xinyi Planned Area located to the east of the said railway station is the current CBD of Taipei, being both the financial district and the premier shopping area, and the location of Taipei 101, Taipei's tallest building.

City Central

City Central is a Business Improvement District (BID) representing approximately 630 businesses in the retail and leisure heart of Liverpool city centre. The BID covers 49 acres and includes 61 streets: Bold Street, Church Street, Lord Street, the Cavern Quarter, Whitechapel, Williamson Square, Queen Square, Ranelagh Street and all inter-connecting streets. Key shopping centres located within the City Central area include: Cavern Walks, Clayton Square, Metquarter and St. Johns.

The BID raises a 1.2% levy on the annual business rates of its members to fund a five-year programme that enhances the public services of the local authority to provide a safe, clean, attractive and well promoted trading area within Liverpool city centre.

Its core aim is to enhance the experience for shoppers, visitors and workers to the city centre and establish the high standards necessary to support Liverpool’s reputation as a premier European city.

The BID sits under the umbrella of Liverpool BID Company and is a company limited by guarantee. It reports quarterly to an Executive Board and also to an Operating Board whose members are re-elected annually at its A.G.M. The BID will seek to enter a third term through a ballot of its members in May 2013, which would run until October 31, 2018.