Councils to get more powers to stop vape and betting shops, PM announces
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said town centres had been "hollowed out" by decades of decline.
The Prime Minister has announced measures to give councils more control over what businesses can open in town centres, particularly regarding vape and betting shops. New planning laws will require shops selling e-cigarettes or vapes to obtain planning permission in England, with tighter definitions for vape shops to prevent businesses from avoiding the rules.
Betting shops and adult gaming centres will also face increased scrutiny, with councils able to refuse new applications. The government aims to address the decline of high streets, which have been hollowed out due to decades of decline and the rise of illegal activities such as unregulated cigarette sales, drug supply, and money laundering.
The National Crime Agency estimates that at least £1 billion worth of criminal cash is laundered through high street stores each year. Conservative and Reform Party shadow communities secretary Sir James Cleverly criticized the proposals, claiming they would lead to more empty shops and tax relief for other small businesses. Liberal Democrats called for tougher powers to crack down on rogue operators, while Reform UK and the Green Party warned that the plans could further harm high street businesses.
The Betting and Gaming Council supported the government's tough action against criminal operators, while the Local Government Association welcomed the increased say communities would have in shaping their high streets.
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