Burnham doubles down on Starmer's vape and betting shop crackdown

Why it matters: Under current planning law, vape shops fall into the same category as cafes and banks, meaning they can open without seeking permission from the local council. Burnham's proposals – an extension of proposals originally tabled by his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer – would change that, giving communities the ability to object to new vape shops before they open.

The details: The proposals, which will be subject to consultation, include:

• Making vape shops their own category in planning law, so permission is always needed from the local council
• Tightening the definition of a vape shop so businesses cannot avoid the rules by describing themselves as a general convenience store
• Scrapping the Gambling Act's "aim to permit" rule, which currently restricts councils' ability to refuse new betting shops and 24-hour slot machine shops
• Making adult gaming centres their own planning category, so they too need permission
• Setting a clearer definition of how high street shops should look, to tackle "garish" neon signs and poor-quality shopfronts

New powers will also allow closure orders for mini-marts and vape shops found to be selling illegal tobacco to be extended for up to 12 months in England and Wales – something also first proposed under former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.

For context: The proposals build on the government's Pride in Place programme, announced in September 2025, which already gave councils in England powers to say no to new betting shops, vape stores and "fake" barbers as part of a wider £5 billion investment in "overlooked" communities. Burnham's plan goes further by changing planning law itself.

What they're saying: 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. 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."

The other side: Reform UK's Robert Jenrick said the plan would "only create even more empty shops on our high streets" and would make "life harder for small, legitimate businesses" unless the government also addressed business rates.

The Liberal Democrats said the proposals did not go far enough. Home affairs spokesman Max Wilkinson said the plan "could go up in a puff of smoke" unless ministers toughened up powers to "properly crack down on cowboy vape shops and dodgy operators," while also calling for the business rates system to be scrapped.

The bigger picture: Downing Street has pointed to research by the Social Market Foundation showing gambling shops are disproportionately located in the poorest British neighbourhoods, and research by the Centre for Social Justice showing seven pubs have closed for every one new vape shop in the UK over the past decade.

Worth noting: The changes would only apply to new shop openings, meaning existing vape shops would not be affected. As the proposals are subject to consultation before becoming law, any change would not take effect immediately. There is also concerns that announcements could trigger a 'rush' to open new stores before any new laws are passed.

The bottom line: Burnham says the plan will help councils take back control of England's high streets from vape shops, betting shops and rogue operators – but the proposals stop short of restricting shops already open, and opposition parties are split on whether the measures go too far or not far enough.

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