England's local councils will receive new powers to require planning permission for vape shops and block the opening of new betting shops.
The measures aim to reverse the decline of town centers and reduce the influence of organized crime. By giving local authorities more control over the types of businesses that open, the government intends to stop the proliferation of outlets linked to the sale of illegal cigarettes, cannabis, and cocaine [1, 2].
Mayor Andy Burnham said the changes on Tuesday on behalf of the UK government. He said town centres have been ‘hollowed out’ by decades of decline and for many people, the high streets they grew up with have become unrecognisable [1, 4].
Under the new rules, the government will scrap the ‘aim to permit’ planning rule [3]. This specific regulation previously limited the ability of councils to stop the opening of unwanted vape and betting outlets [3].
Burnham said the policy is a necessary step to restore the character of English high streets. The shift in power allows councils to evaluate whether a new business serves the community or contributes to the existing urban decay [1, 2].
The initiative also targets the security risks associated with unregulated shops. Authorities said that restricting the rapid growth of these specific business types will help curb criminal activity that often hides behind the facade of legitimate retail storefronts [1, 4].
“Town centres have been ‘hollowed out’ by decades of decline”
This policy shift represents a move toward localized urban planning to combat 'clone towns' and the proliferation of low-value retail. By removing the 'aim to permit' barrier, the UK government is prioritizing community-led commercial development over the previous deregulated approach, specifically targeting sectors that the state now associates with public health concerns and organized crime.
