Britain’s vaping industry has backed government plans to give councils greater control over new vape shops, but warned that responsible specialist retailers must not be swept up in a wider crackdown on high-street businesses.
Under proposals announced this week, new vape shops would require planning permission, giving councils more power to decide where they can open.
The government is also planning tougher controls on betting shops and adult gaming centres as part of a wider attempt to revive struggling high streets.
The UK Vaping Industry Association said it supported action against poorly presented or non-compliant operators, while arguing that dedicated vape stores serving adult smokers should be treated differently.
John Dunne, director general of the UKVIA, said: “We support action to tackle the proliferation of garish vape shops that can make parts of our high streets look more like amusement arcades, with excessive lighting, inappropriate displays and little regard for the communities in which they operate.”
New vape shops would need planning permission
At present, councils have limited planning control over the opening of vape shops because they are covered by a wider commercial planning class.
The proposed reforms would change that, requiring new vape retailers to go through the planning process and giving local authorities greater discretion over where they can operate, including around schools.
The government wants the changes operating from early 2027 and is proposing a six-week consultation before the new rules are introduced.
The wider package would also make it easier for councils to reject new gambling premises and give police and local authorities longer to investigate businesses suspected of links to organised crime.
The government has previously announced tougher enforcement against businesses including rogue vape shops suspected of involvement in money laundering, tax evasion and other illegal activity.
UKVIA calls for targeted approach
UKVIA said greater enforcement should focus on inappropriate and non-compliant businesses rather than the specialist vaping sector as a whole.
Dunne said: “Responsible retailers have no interest in seeing these types of businesses continue to open unchecked, which is precisely why the UKVIA has consistently called for a robust and vigorously enforced licensing scheme for the vaping sector.
“A properly designed licensing system would help councils and enforcement agencies target inappropriate and non-compliant operators while raising standards across the industry.”
But he warned against a blanket approach. “However, it is vital that specialist vape shops are not caught up in a blanket crackdown,” he said. “Traditional vape retailers employ knowledgeable staff, comply with the regulations and provide an important service to adult smokers who are looking to move away from cigarettes.”
He added: “For many smokers, specialist vape shops provide the advice, product knowledge and ongoing support that can help them make that transition successfully. They are responsible local businesses and should not be treated in the same way as rogue or inappropriate operators.”
UKVIA said the detail of the new planning rules would be crucial and called for the industry to be involved in discussions with government and local authorities.
Wider pressures on the high street
Others have questioned whether restricting particular types of shops will address the broader pressures facing town centres.
Robert Sidebottom of Arcus Compliance said: “There will be nothing left in the high street. The death of the high street is more about consumer shopping habits than anything else.”
He added: “They make it read like vape and tobacco shops have eaten other shops like some kind of evil Marvel character. Not a single mention of cutting rates for high street businesses or additional funding.”
The government says its proposals are intended to give communities more control over the mix of businesses opening locally while allowing councils to act where they believe particular types of premises have become over-concentrated.
