Prime Minister Andy Burnham has unveiled plans on Tuesday to give councils greater powers to block new vape shops, betting shops and adult gaming centres, as part of a package aimed at reversing the decline of Britain’s High Street.

The proposals will scrap the “aim to permit” rule introduced under the Gambling Act 2005, which limits councils’ ability to reject new gambling premises when licensing requirements are met. The government said the change would allow local authorities across Great Britain to refuse new betting shops and 24-hour slot machine venues where they consider them inappropriate.

New vape shops in England will require planning permission under the proposals, while ministers will tighten the legal definition of a vape shop to prevent businesses avoiding the rules by presenting themselves as convenience stores or other retailers. Councils will also be able to consider the location of proposed vape shops, including whether they should be allowed near schools.

The government plans to introduce the measures from the start of 2027 following a six-week consultation. Planning permission will similarly be required for new adult gaming centres in England, while councils will receive greater powers over premises associated with rogue operators and organised crime.

Burnham said the changes would give communities greater control over their town centres, arguing that “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 added: “We’re putting communities back in control and giving local people a real say over what opens on their high street.”

The package will extend closure orders for certain businesses linked to criminal activity from six months to up to one year, giving police and councils more time to investigate. The measures will target businesses including vape shops, mini-marts, barbers and other premises suspected of links to organised crime, including through so-called phoenixing.

The government will further issue guidance on the design and appearance of High Street shopfronts, with ministers seeking to give councils clearer expectations for the visual standards of town centres. Green Street data cited by the Financial Times found the number of vape shops increased from 262 in 2015 to 3,776 last year.

The Betting and Gaming Council said betting shop numbers had fallen by more than a third since 2019, with about 3,000 closures and more than 15,000 job losses. A spokesperson said it was “simply wrong” to suggest licensed betting shops were spreading unchecked.

The British Retail Consortium welcomed measures targeting rogue operators but said business rates remained a major obstacle to High Street recovery. Tom Ironside, its director of business and regulation, said: “The biggest barrier to their long-term success remains the outdated business rates system.”

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