Councils to get more powers to stop vape and betting shops, PM announces
The prime minister announced new government plans requiring new vape shops and adult gaming centres to obtain planning permission, while giving councils extended powers to close illegal stores.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- New vape shops in England will be required to apply for planning permission from local councils
- Adult gaming centres offering 24-hour gambling machines will also need planning permission
- Powers to extend closure orders for mini-marts and vape shops selling illegal tobacco up to 12 months
- NCA estimates at least £1bn of criminal cash is laundered through UK high street stores annually
The UK government has unveiled a series of measures aimed at revitalising high streets by cracking down on problem outlets, following extensive investigations by BBC News that exposed organised crime operating in retail spaces across the nation, including illicit cigarettes, drugs, illegal working, and money laundering.
Under the newly announced proposals, planning laws will be amended so that every new shop selling electronic cigarettes or vapes must seek formal permission from its local council in England. The definition of a vape shop will also be tightened to close loopholes that allowed businesses to bypass regulations by registering merely as general convenience stores or standard retailers.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Furthermore, new planning permission requirements will apply to adult gaming centres providing round-the-clock access to gambling machines in England. Authorities will also receive expanded powers to extend closure orders for mini-marts and vape shops caught selling illegal tobacco for up to 12 months, a measure previously championed by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer across England and Wales. The National Crime Agency estimates that at least one billion pounds of illicit funds are laundered through British high street stores every year via counterfeit goods, tax evasion, and illegal drug supply operations.
"the rise of vape shops, betting shops and rogue operators have replaced the shops, services, and community spaces that people are crying out for"
Burnham
This targeted government intervention highlights the growing urgency to address underground criminal networks exploiting retail fronts in town centres. By shifting more regulatory control and enforcement powers directly to local authorities, the policy attempts to close down operations that evade standard oversight much faster. However, political friction remains high, with opposition figures warning that without structural relief on business rates, tighter planning rules risk creating an even greater number of vacant commercial properties on struggling high streets.
Critics from the Conservative party and Reform UK argued that the proposals would simply result in more empty shops without addressing underlying cost pressures. Robert Jenrick, Reform UK's economy spokesman, stated that until the government scraps high business rates and provides fundamental financial backing for independent retailers, the policy will only accelerate vacancies across town centres.
Source: BBC Politics
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