Burnham to scrap ‘aim to permit’ for UK betting shops as councils get more power over AGCs and vape stores

The UK government is preparing a package of enforcement reforms that would give local councils stronger powers over betting shops, adult gaming centres (AGCs), and vape retailers on Britain’s high streets. For PSPs and operators, the important bit is simple: planning permission is about to matter more for retail gambling and adjacent high-risk categories in England and Great Britain.

1. The government will repeal the long-standing ‘aim to permit’ rule for betting shops and 24-hour slot machine arcades across Great Britain, removing the presumption in favour of granting permission for those venues. In England, AGCs that offer round-the-clock gambling machines will instead need planning approval.
2. New retail outlets in England that want to sell e-cigarettes or vapes will also need planning permission before opening. The reforms are being framed as an effort to curb illegal activity and revive town centres, with more local control over what opens on the high street.
3. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Facebook that betting shops and vape shops are “dodgy businesses” and wrote: “We’re giving local people and councils more control over what opens, and tougher powers to crack down on businesses that aren’t good for our communities.” He added: “For too long, Westminster has stood by while our high streets declined. That ends now.”
4. The Betting and Gaming Council welcomed more local input, but pushed back on the idea that betting shops are expanding unchecked. It said betting shop numbers have fallen by over a third since 2019, around 3,000 shops have closed, and over 15,000 jobs have already been lost. The group also said betting shops still support 37,500 jobs.
5. The Local Government Association called the approach a “positive step” toward giving councils more power over problematic premises. The warning from both sides, though, is that planning reform alone will not stop the broader decline in town centres.

For high-risk operators, the practical takeaway is that England and Great Britain are moving toward a tighter planning regime for physical gambling and vape retail. If your business depends on storefront density, council tolerance, or local footfall, this is the sort of rule change that can affect expansion plans faster than a licensing consultation ever will.