New Powers Granted to Councils to Tackle High Street Decline
Planning permission now required for vape and betting shops as government moves to curb illicit activities and revitalise town centres.
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Callum Smith
The Prime Minister has announced new powers for London boroughs to crack down on betting and vape shops.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham declared, "The rise of vape shops, betting shops and rogue operators have replaced the shops, services, and community spaces that people are crying out for." He indicated pubs, social clubs, and live music venues have been replaced by boarded-up windows and for-sale signs.
The government reviews tax relief for businesses that do not make a positive contribution to local communities, such as vape shops. Burnham added, "For many people, the high streets they grew up with have been hollowed out and become unrecognisable over decades of decline."
For many people, the high streets they grew up with have been hollowed out and become unrecognisable over decades of decline.
The 'aim to permit' policy, introduced when Sir Tony Blair’s Labour government liberalised gambling laws in 2005, is reportedly set to be revoked for betting shops.
This shift comes as Britain has lost nearly 1,800 pubs and bars since 2016. Meanwhile, the number of vape and tobacco shops increased to almost 2,200, according to analysis by the Centre for Social Justice.
Ministers also announced a £30 million enforcement operation targeting high street businesses suspected of financial crime and illegal working.
Police will be able to shut down "dodgy" barbers, vape shops, and nail salons for up to a year under the new regulations.
The plans aim to improve high streets by addressing issues such as illegal cigarettes, vapes, drugs, illegal working, and money-laundering. The National Crime Agency estimates at least £1 billion of criminal cash is laundered through high street stores annually.
Undercover reports last month exposed the sale of cocaine, cannabis, laughing gas, and prescription pills. Secret underground tunnels supplying illegal cigarettes to high street mini-marts were discovered in May and June of last year.
In July last year, 3,700 illegal shops reportedly operated across the UK. This prompted Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to launch an urgent investigation following evidence presented.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner affirmed, "We're putting communities back in control and giving local people a real say over what opens on their high street." She further stated, "That's why we're giving local leaders the power to say no to what doesn't belong on their high street, and the tools to fix it themselves."
We're putting communities back in control and giving local people a real say over what opens on their high street. That's why we're giving local leaders the power to say no to what doesn't belong on their high street, and the tools to fix it themselves.
The government plans to tackle the appearance of town centres with clearer standards for retail premises. The Prime Minister pledges a crackdown on lax planning rules.
Officials claim the Prime Minister will spend much of the rest of August travelling the country in 'listening mode,' focusing on reviving high streets and tackling the cost of living.
The government plans to consult on new measures for six weeks, aiming for implementation by the start of 2027. However, the Conservatives and Reform claim the proposals would lead to 'more empty' shops without tax relief for other small businesses.