Burnham to give councils more powers to block vape and betting shops

Andy Burnham, the former Labour Party leader, has announced plans to grant councils more authority to obstruct the establishment of vape and betting shops on high streets across England, Wales, and Scotland. Under these new measures, local authorities will have the power to reject applications for betting shops and adult gaming centers.

Vape shops will require planning permission, a change that Downing Street expects to be implemented by the start of next year. Burnham vowed to abolish the "aim to permit" rule in the Gambling Act 2005, which previously mandated councils to permit new gambling premises that meet licensing requirements. This proposal marks a significant shift from the progress made by his predecessor, Keir Starmer, who introduced measures that permitted councils to consider the existing number of gambling premises in an area but did not eliminate the "aim to permit" rule.

Burnham, as mayor of Greater Manchester, had previously urged Starmer to abolish the rule in January, alongside nearly 300 other politicians and activists. The mayor contends that communities should possess greater control over their high streets, where traditional shops, pubs, and other services have been displaced by the proliferation of vape and gambling shops.

This initiative aligns with Burnham's broader objective to deliver tangible improvements in people's daily lives during his tenure as prime minister. The government has emphasized that vape and betting shops are prominent indicators of decline on high streets, and locals have expressed genuine concerns regarding these establishments.

A rapid consultation on the proposed measures would last six weeks, with the intention of having them in place by the beginning of 2027. The government's decision to tackle vape and betting shops stems from the belief that they represent significant signs of deterioration on high streets, and local residents have voiced genuine apprehensions about these businesses.

Research conducted by the University of Southampton suggested that Labour would suffer a significant setback in the upcoming general election unless it addressed the decline of Britain's high streets. While Prof. Will Jennings, who led the study, acknowledged that Burnham's focus on vape and betting shops constitutes an important initial step, he also pointed out that the policy would not solve all issues, as nearly one-third of retail sales in the UK are now conducted online.

Nevertheless, the government acknowledges that this policy addresses a genuine concern that affects people's perception of their local areas. Under the new proposals, vape shops will be classified separately from other shops, allowing councils to scrutinize each individual application and reject those deemed inappropriate for the specific area.

The government is also considering refining the definition of what constitutes a vape shop to prevent individuals from claiming they are opening a convenience store that primarily sells vapes while also providing other products to deter them from opening near schools. Communities Secretary Angela Rayner emphasized that this move tackles problems that have accumulated over several decades.

She highlighted that the government is empowering local leaders with the authority to decline premises they deem unfit on their high streets and providing them with the necessary tools to effect change themselves. Research conducted by Health Equity North revealed that vape shops are disproportionately concentrated in deprived communities, with three times as many shops in the most impoverished areas compared to the most affluent regions.

Burnham criticized the transformation of high streets, stating that the rise of vape shops, betting shops, and other unscrupulous operators has replaced the traditional shops, services, and community spaces that residents yearn for. He emphasized that such changes are unacceptable and that the government is taking steps to rectify the situation on high streets.

The measures are considered a "first step" towards a wider beautification of Britain's high streets, with Westminster setting stricter guidelines for the design and appearance of shopfronts. Local leaders are encouraged to consult blueprints for ideal high streets and examine successful examples to enhance the aesthetics of their primary shopping areas.

Dawn Butler, MP for Brent East, who has advocated for this issue, shared her experience of observing the gambling industry's impact on her local high street during a previous visit with The Guardian. She revealed that government data showed that B3 gambling machines generated an average of £35,000 in gross gambling yield per machine annually.

This figure underscored the scale of the gambling industry's presence on high streets and the need for urgent action to address the issue.