Burnham Gives Councils New Powers Over Vape Shops as NCA Flags £1 Billion High Street Laundering
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 10
Burnham Gives Councils New Powers Over Vape Shops as NCA Flags £1 Billion High Street Laundering
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 10
Summary
New vape shops in England would need planning permission under government plans that also scrap the "aim to permit" rule limiting councils' ability to block betting shops and slot-machine venues.
The package is aimed at high streets hit by rogue operators, with tighter definitions to stop vape sellers posing as convenience stores and longer closure orders of up to 12 months for premises selling illegal tobacco or vapes.
£1 billion of criminal cash is laundered through high street stores each year, the National Crime Agency estimates, linking some businesses to fake goods, tax evasion, illegal working and drug supply.
Opposition parties backed tougher action on criminal operators but said extra planning controls without wider relief on business rates and taxes risk leaving more shops empty.
The measures follow 18 months of BBC reporting on organised crime in mini-marts, barbers and vape shops, and a £30 million national enforcement drive that has already triggered raids across the UK.
Will giving councils power to ban rogue vape shops revive high streets, or just leave behind a trail of boarded-up ghost towns?
With a billion pounds of criminal cash flowing through local shops, can a £30m police unit truly dismantle this high street underworld?
The 2026 High Street Revolution: New Council Powers, Crime Crackdown, and Economic Rescue for UK Town Centres
Overview
In August 2026, the UK government responded to widespread public concern about high street decline by launching major reforms that empower local councils to control new vape shops and gambling venues, abolish the 'aim to permit' rule, and enforce stricter shopfront standards. These changes aim to clean up town centres, restore community pride, and disrupt organized crime, which launders billions through retail fronts. Backed by new law enforcement powers and a dedicated crime unit, the reforms are paired with targeted financial aid for pubs and music venues, flexible leasing rules, and rental auctions to fill vacant shops, all designed to revitalize local economies and strengthen community control.