12th August 2026
High streets that have been hollowed out by the unchecked spread of vape stores, betting shops, and rogue businesses that do little to serve local communities are set to face a crackdown under new powers announced by the Prime Minister yesterday [Tuesday 11 August2026].
Local people to get a real say over what opens on their high street as Prime Minister hands new powers to communities and councils.
Planning loopholes closed and outdated “Aim to Permit” rule to be scrapped to stop unwanted vape and betting shops taking over high streets.
Dodgy businesses linked to organised crime to be shut down for longer under tougher powers for police and local authorities.
Part of the Prime Minister’s plan to put power back in the hands of local communities and to bring back hope.
High streets that have been hollowed out by the unchecked spread of vape stores, betting shops, and rogue businesses that do little to serve local communities are set to face a crackdown under new powers announced by the Prime Minister today [Tuesday 11 August].
The measures will put communities back in control of their high streets by giving local people a real say over what businesses can open in their town centres and how local high streets should look, as well as tougher powers for the police and local authorities to crack down on rogue operators.
As part of the PM’s plans to save Britain’s high streets, the Government intends to revoke the Gambling Act’s outdated “Aim to Permit” rule, which currently restricts the ability of councils to refuse new betting shops and 24-hour slot machine shops even where there are strong local concerns.
The change would give communities and councils a stronger say over whether new betting shops are right for their area, helping stop them spreading unchecked across struggling high streets.
The government will also require planning permission for vape shops to finally give local people and councils a say over whether they open and to stop them opening near schools. The definition of a vape shop will also be tightened to stop businesses getting around the new rules by claiming to be a general convenience store or retailer.
Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs), which are adult-only venues offering up to 24-hour access to gambling machines such as slot and fruit machines, will also require planning permission under proposals due to come into effect at the start of next year.
The changes come as vape shops and adult gaming centres have spread rapidly across many town centres. Unlike most businesses that communities raise concerns about, they can currently open without planning permission under the same rules that apply to coffee shops and clothing retailers.
Analysis by the Centre for Social Justice has found that Britain has lost nearly 1,800 pubs and bars, while the number of vape and tobacco shops increased to almost 2,200 since 2016. Similar concerns have been raised about the clustering of gambling premises in local communities, particularly in more deprived areas. In the London Borough of Brent alone, there are more than 80 gambling venues, including in Harlesden where there are 10 betting shops within a 10-minute walk.
The maximum length of Closure Orders will also double from six to 12 months, giving police and local authorities more time to investigate premises linked to organised crime, pursue prosecutions, and prevent rogue businesses - from illegal vape shops, and dodgy barber shops - reopening before investigations are complete.
High streets sit at the heart of communities across the country, but too many have been hollowed out by years of decline. The loss of shops, services and community spaces has left many people feeling like the places they grew up in are changing beyond recognition and the decline of our high streets has mirrored a wider sense of decline across Britain.
The Government is taking practical action to give local people a real say over the future of their high streets, including shaping how the new measures will work in practice.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:
“For many people, the high streets they grew up with have been hollowed out and become unrecognisable over decades of decline. The rise of vape shops, betting shops and rogue operators have replaced the shops, services, and community spaces that people are crying out for.
“That’s not on. I said we would improve Britain’s high streets, and that’s exactly what we are starting to do. We’re putting communities back in control and giving local people a real say over what opens on their high street. Local councils will be given the powers they need to rein in unwanted shops and bring town centres back to life.
“High streets are the beating heart of local communities, but for too long Westminster has stood by while they have been in decline. This government is committed to restoring our high streets and bringing back hope across Britain.”
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner said:
“People know when their high street isn’t working for them. Whether it’s the vape shop or betting shops that’s opened with no say from locals, the shopfront that’s seen better days, or the sense that nobody’s in control.
“These problems have built up over years, but this government won’t leave councils and communities powerless to crackdown on everyday eyesores that blight our high streets.
“That’s why we’re giving local leaders the power to say no to what doesn’t belong on their high street, and the tools to fix it themselves.”
East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward said:
“Our local shops and high streets hold a mirror up to our economy. If that mirror shows us nothing but vape shops, gambling shops, and crime, it destroys pride in place. People, councils, and local businesses should be able to work together to shape their high streets, but as things are, they lack the levers to ensure that everyone plays fair.”
“This announcement gives places the chance to take back control, ensuring that no one type of business can monopolise the high street and that flagrant criminality can be dealt with. Local powers given to locally accountable councils, together with investment led by regional Mayors will help diverse high streets to flourish.”
Joshua Nicholson, Head of Housing and Communities at the Centre for Social Justice said:
“Britain’s high streets have been hijacked by a growing number of dodgy vape shops, mini marts, and barbers, many of which are linked to organised crime.
“The Government is right to give councils new powers to say no to these dodgy shops. High street renewal is vital to restoring security within our communities.”
The Government will also work with councils to improve the appearance of high streets and help restore pride in local town centres. In too many places, poor-quality shopfronts, garish neon signs, and oversized logos have prompted complaints from local people and contributed to high streets feeling less welcoming, at a time when the rise of online shopping has already put increasing pressure on town centres.
To help turn this around, the Government will set clearer expectations for the design and appearance of high street shopfronts. Working with the Planning Advisory Service, it will identify the best examples of attractive, thriving town centres from across the country and provide councils with practical guidance on improving the look and feel of local high streets.
Over the next six months, councils will be supported to improve local high streets, drawing on successful examples such as Cross Street in Oswestry and Keynsham High Street. Building on this, the government will set out further action to tackle the long-term decline that has hollowed out town centres and make high streets places people want to visit, shop, and spend time in again.
The measures build on wider action to tackle rogue businesses linked to organised crime, including a £30 million crackdown on money laundering, tax evasion, and illegal working, backed by raids, shop closures and cash seizures.
It also builds on action the Prime Minister has taken in his first weeks in office to back local communities and town centres, including a 20% cut to business rates for pubs, social clubs and live music venues across England from next year – changes which are fully funded including through reviewing reliefs for businesses that do not make a positive contribution to their communities, like vape shops. The government will also return to the commitment to reform the wider business rates system, including Small Business Rates Relief, at the Budget.
It forms part of the Government’s wider drive to restore pride in local places, shift power out of Westminster and back into communities, and bring more people back to town centres.
Scotland
Scotland’s Separate Actions on Vapes
While Scotland is not covered by the UK government's new planning class rules for vape stores, the Scottish Government is targeting problem shops using different legislation:
The Display Ban: Under current proposals, Scotland is moving toward a complete ban on the public display of vapes. Similar to tobacco laws, Scottish corner shops and e-cigarette retailers will be forced to keep vapes hidden out of sight.
Plain Packaging: Scottish ministers are pushing ahead with requirements for vapes to be sold in plain packaging to destroy their appeal to children.
Single-Use Ban: Scotland, along with the rest of the UK, has already enacted a strict ban on the sale and supply of all single-use, disposable vapes.
In Scotland, local councils are heavily reliant on Trading Standards teams and the mandatory Scottish Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Product Register to combat illicit trading.
However, Scottish local authorities face a major legislative hurdle: unlike councils in England and Wales, Scottish councils do not possess the automatic "Closure Order" powers used to quickly shut down physical shops suspected of being fronts for serious organised crime.
Scottish councils utilize several existing enforcement and licensing mechanisms to manage illicit traders:
1. The Scottish Tobacco and Vape Register
The Mechanism: Any shop in Scotland wishing to sell tobacco or vapes must, by law, be registered on the Scottish Tobacco Register.
The Power: If a business is caught repeatedly selling illegal/counterfeit goods, or selling to minors, Scottish councils can apply for a Tobacco/Vaping Banning Order. This strips the retailer of their right to sell these products completely. Operating without registration or while banned is a criminal offence.
2. Test Purchasing and Raids
The Mechanism: Working under the Enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Programme (ETSEP), council Trading Standards officers routinely deploy underage volunteers to conduct "test purchases".The Power: When a rogue shop is identified as selling illicit goods (such as non-compliant over-capacity vapes or untaxed cigarettes), councils execute joint raids with Police Scotland and HMRC. They use existing statutory powers to seize all illegal stock and disrupt the supply chain.
3. Escalating Financial Penalties
The Mechanism: Councils issue escalating on-the-spot Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) to retailers caught violating trading laws.
The Power: These financial penalties target both the business owner and the specific staff member who made an illegal sale. Continued non-compliance triggers formal criminal prosecution through the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.4. Overprovision Policies (Alcohol and Gambling)The Mechanism: For businesses requiring alcohol or gambling licences, Scottish Licensing Boards utilize "overprovision" frameworks.
The Power: If a council determines that a specific high street has reached a saturation point for specific types of licensed premises, they can enforce a blanket refusal on all new applications in that area to stop problem clusters from growing.
The Ongoing Debate:
A Call for Harder Powers
Because Scottish councils currently cannot issue emergency 3-to-12-month Closure Orders on premises, Trading Standards bodies like the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) have warned that criminal gangs often simply reopen raided shops within hours. Former Scottish ministers and local authorities are actively pressuring the Scottish Government to pass emergency legislation mirroring England’s closure laws to shut down these rogue entities permanently.
You can report a suspected illicit shop in Scotland through three main channels, depending on whether you want to remain anonymous or speak directly to a consumer advisor.
1. Completely Anonymous Online Reporting
If you suspect a shop is selling illegal tobacco, counterfeit goods, or non-compliant vapes, you can report them anonymously.
The SCOTSS Reporting Tool: The Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) offers a free, dedicated SCOTSS Anonymous Reporting Form specifically for flagging illegal tobacco and vape sales.
Local Council Portals: Many Scottish local authorities host their own anonymous tip-off forms. For example, you can submit details directly via the Edinburgh Council Trading Standards Form or the West Lothian Council Anonymous Reporting Form if the business is operating in those regions.
2.
Telephone and Consumer Helplines
If you prefer to speak to someone to log your intelligence, you cannot phone local Trading Standards departments directly for general complaints. Instead, all initial reports are handled by Scotland's national consumer partner:
Advice Direct Scotland: Call the free national helpline on 0808 164 6000.Online Portal: You can log the details online at the Consumer Advice Scotland Website.
How it works: They will formally record the intelligence and securely route it directly to the correct local authority Trading Standards team for investigation.
3. Reporting to Other Enforcement Authorities
If the shop is selling dangerous goods that extend beyond traditional counterfeit or age-restricted retail, alternative pathways exist:
Police Scotland: For shops suspected of acting as front operations for organized crime or selling completely illicit weapons, call 101.Food Standards Scotland: If the business is distributing illegal, fake, or unsafe food or alcohol products, report it directly to Food Standards Scotland.
Information to Prepare Before Reporting To ensure Trading Standards officers can successfully take action, try to provide as much of the following information as possible: The business name and exact street address. The specific items being sold (e.g., oversized vapes, untaxed/foreign cigarettes, fake designer goods).Where the stock is kept if you observed it (e.g., hidden under the counter, under floorboards, or brought in from a vehicle out back).Times and dates when the illegal trading is most active.