A HELPING HAND FOR OUR HIGH STREETS
🗣️ Today, the government is giving local people and councils a real say over what opens on their high street.
🏚️ Too many high streets have been taken over by endless vape shops, gambling premises and other businesses that don't do much for the local community. That's about to change.
🛠️ New powers mean local people and councils can finally take back control of their shops, as part of the Prime Minister's plan to save Britain's high streets.
THE PROBLEM WE FACE ON OUR HIGH STREETS
🍺 Britain has lost nearly 1,800 pubs and bars since 2016, while the number of vape and tobacco shops has grown by 245 to almost 2,200 in the same period.
🏘️ Right now, anyone can open a vape shop without asking permission first, they get treated the same as a coffee shop or a clothes shop.
📉 This has let them pop up everywhere, especially in areas that are already struggling.
🎰 There are around 1,450 adult gaming centres across the UK, and more than half of these are in the poorest 20% of neighbourhoods.
📍 In the London Borough of Brent alone, there are more than 80 gambling venues.
WHAT WE'RE ANNOUNCING TODAY
🚀 Today marks a new step in putting power back in the hands of local communities.
🚭 The Prime Minister has announced that vape shops will need planning permission for the first time, stopping them opening near schools and closing the loophole that lets them pose as general convenience stores.
🎲 Adult Gaming Centres – the 24-hour fruit and slot machine lounges - will also need planning permission, closing another gap in the rules.
📋 The outdated "Aim to Permit" rule, which currently makes it hard for councils to say no to those gambling premises, will be scrapped. This will give councils a stronger say over whether new betting shops and 24-hour slot machine shops open in their area.
🎨 The government will also support councils to tidy up shopfronts and make high streets more welcoming, setting clearer standards for how high streets should look and sharing best practice from places already getting it right.
📝 These changes will be consulted on shortly, followed by legislation as soon as we can.
AND WHY DOES THIS MATTER TO ME?
We want local people to feel the benefits of these changes in their everyday lives. These benefits include:
🗣️ A greater say over your high street
You'll finally have your concerns heard - councils will be able to refuse new gambling premises and vape shops where there are strong concerns from local residents, such as vape shops opening near schools, rather than being forced to approve them under outdated rules.
🛡️ Better-looking town centres
You'll start to see your local high street looking better, as government works with councils and the Planning Advisory Service over the next six months to show what good high street design looks like in practice - taking inspiration from high street success stories like Cross Street in Oswestry and Keynsham High Street.
🍻 A fairer deal for pubs and local venues
You'll benefit from a stronger local pub, social club and live music scene, with venues getting a 20% cut to their business rates from next year, partly paid for by reviewing tax breaks for businesses like vape shops that don't give much back to their local community.
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