Burnham announces new powers for councils to curb vape and betting shops

Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced on August 10, 2026, a package of measures to give local councils greater control over high street businesses, targeting vape shops and betting shops in an effort to reverse decades of decline. The plans, which include scrapping the "aim to permit" rule for gambling venues and requiring planning permission for new vape stores, are expected to come into effect at the start of 2027.

Under the proposals, any new shop wanting to sell e-cigarettes in England will need to apply for planning permission from its local council. The legal definition of a vape shop will be tightened to prevent businesses from sidestepping the rules by registering as convenience stores. Across Great Britain, the government will abolish the "aim to permit" rule, introduced in the Gambling Act 2005, which has limited councils' ability to refuse new betting shops and 24-hour slot machine venues. In England, adult gaming centres offering round-the-clock access to gambling machines will also require planning permission for the first time.

The measures are part of a broader effort to address the "hollowing out" of town centres. Burnham stated that high streets had become...