Government moves aim to give communities control over high streets
The Government has unveiled plans to tighten controls on vape shops, betting shops and other so‑called rogue operators in an attempt to reshape town centres — a change that would give Bury Council and local residents greater influence over what can open on the town’s high street.
Under the proposed rules, outlets selling vapes and offering gambling facilities would no longer be able to open as freely as a coffee shop or clothing retailer. Instead they would be required to obtain planning permission before setting up, a shift intended to return decision‑making powers to communities and local authorities.
What the changes would do
The Government says the move will revoke elements of the current arrangements that make it hard for councils to refuse new betting outlets. In particular, the proposal would remove the existing approach linked to the Gambling Act which, campaigners argue, has restricted local ability to block new operators.
"For many people, the high streets they grew up with have been hollowed out and become unrecognisable over decades of decline," the Prime Minister said.
The announcement highlights concerns about a proliferation of certain shop types while other local services and community spaces have declined. Figures cited alongside the plans note a national fall in pubs and bars since 2016, contrasted with a rise in vape and tobacco retailers.
| Current status | Proposed change |
|---|---|
| Vape and many betting outlets can open without planning permission | Vape shops, bookmakers and Adult Gaming Centres to require planning permission |
| Gambling Act provisions limit councils' ability to refuse new betting sites | Government intends to revoke the "Aim to Permit" rule |
Local implications for Bury
For Bury residents, the measures would mean community voice and council planning departments have a clearer route to challenge unwelcome openings on the high street. If implemented, licence applications for new vape or betting premises would be subject to the same planning scrutiny as other retail uses, giving local people a formal say in proposals.
The measures are pitched as part of a broader drive to revive town centres by encouraging a wider mix of businesses and protecting community uses. The Government argues that the spread of vape and gambling outlets has displaced shops and services that communities want.
- More local control: Bury Council could refuse planning permission where a development is judged to harm the local high street.
- Community input: Residents will have opportunities to object or support specific applications during the planning process.
- Timetable: The changes are expected to take effect from the start of next year, according to the announcement.
Those behind the plans point to wider social trends: since 2016, the number of vape and tobacco shops nationally has grown while traditional pubs and bars have closed in large numbers. The Government says altering planning rules is one way to reverse what it describes as the hollowing out of town centres.
Local councillors and business groups in Bury will now be watching closely to see how draft legislation lands and what it will mean for planning committees, high street rents and the mix of shops and services in the town. For many residents the issue will be less about policy language and more about whether high streets begin to offer the services and community spaces they want to see return.
Any formal change to the planning regime will follow further parliamentary steps and consultations. In the meantime, the announcement sets out a clear signal of intent from the national level that town centre planning is being reshaped to favour local choice.
