Starmer unveils plan to curb vape and gambling shops with local high-street powers

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to unveil a major overhaul of town planning decision-making, aimed at giving local residents more control over the shops on their high streets. In a speech expected this week, Starmer will propose that neighbourhoods can veto or limit the number of certain types of businesses—such as vaping outlets and gambling shops—within defined areas, a move designed to give communities a say in the mix of retailers on their streets.

Under the plan, neighbourhoods could effectively block what officials describe as “unwanted” businesses by capping the number of any particular type of store within a specified radius or boundary. The broader shake-up would devolve more decision-making to councils and include provisions to speed up the process of bringing derelict shops back into use, allowing local authorities to take control of vacant units more quickly and lease them to new enterprises. The government intends to accompany the policy with new funding targeted at areas that Labour says have been left behind, with resources to support local regeneration and the transformation of empty storefronts into viable ventures.

The move comes as Labour seeks to address concerns that run-down town centres are contributing to a wider sense that Britain’s economy is not working for all communities. In a message framed to counter perceptions of neglect, Communities Secretary Steve Reed said the country is not sharing its prosperity equally and that many communities have felt unheard for too long. He characterized the policy as a step toward giving people on the ground more influence over the places where they live, with the aim of restoring pride and charting a path to stronger local economies.

"The country is not working for far too many people. People and regions are not sharing in Britain’s prosperity equally," Reed said. "We’ve got a lot of communities that feel they don’t have a voice. This is about supporting those communities to take back control, restore pride in the places where they’re living, and give them the power and resources to make their areas more successful."

The proposals are also pitched as a response to perceived economic and social disruption in town centres, a line of argument Labour has used to frame broader reforms. Shadow ministers have argued that a more devolved approach to planning can steer investment toward areas that have seen long-standing neglect, with councils granted greater leeway to shape the local retail mix and accelerate the reuse of vacant units rather than letting them sit idle.

In the broader political landscape, Labour has sought to strike a balance between empowering communities and addressing concerns about spiralling openings of certain niche retailers. The party has argued that local control should be paired with accountability and investment, rather than leaving town centres to drift without direction. Critics from opposition parties, including Reform UK, have warned that sweeping local vetoes could deter investment or distort competition. Labour countered that the policy is designed to empower residents to shape their own streets while safeguarding economic vitality through targeted funding and streamlined processes for redevelopment.

Separately, researchers at University College London and King’s College London reported on a related public-health issue: the impact of branding on youth interest in vaping products. The study, which involved 2,770 young people aged 11 to 18 and 4,000 adults, found that plain packaging reduced perceived peer interest among youths from 53 percent to 38 percent, suggesting branding plays a role in appeal. Adults’ interest showed little change between branded and plain packs. The researchers note that while plain packaging might diminish the allure for younger audiences, it would likely have limited effect on adults who already use or consider using e-cigarettes. The findings contribute to ongoing policy discussions about how to balance public health priorities with consumer choice and regulatory approaches to tobacco and vaping products.

The government’s planned town-planning changes are expected to be outlined in a formal policy speech set for Thursday, with officials indicating that the reforms would align decision-making with local priorities and enable councils to respond more quickly to shifts in their high streets. As Labour frames the proposal within a broader strategy to revive town centres, the party emphasizes that giving communities more influence over shop types and the pace of redevelopment is intended to foster economic resilience while addressing local concerns about safety, community identity, and quality of life. The policy signals a test of Labour’s approach to balancing local autonomy with national standards as it seeks to rebuild trust in regional economies across Britain.