Prime Minister Andy Burnham announces plans to give councils more powers to limit vape shops, betting shops and adult gaming centres, as part of an effort to address “hollowed out” high streets.
The main policy change across outlets is the planned removal or scrapping of the Gambling Act’s “aim to permit” approach (a rule that has historically encouraged licensing authorities to allow gambling premises). Local authorities would then be able to reject new betting shops and adult gaming centres. On vapes, the proposals would require vape shops to obtain planning permission, strengthening councils’ ability to prevent them from proliferating in particular areas.
Outlets also add further detail on timing and scope. Several reports say the changes could be in place from the start of next year, with adult gaming centres—often associated with 24-hour access to gaming machines—requiring planning permission. Other coverage emphasizes a wider tightening of definitions and rules to reduce loopholes, and notes the measures are framed as giving communities greater control over what opens on their high streets. The reporting is largely aligned on the direction of travel, with emphasis varying between planning-rule reform, licensing practice, and vape-specific planning controls.
