Finance expert warns vape and betting shop crackdown will not revive struggling high streets

Plans to give councils greater control over the opening of vape shops, betting shops and adult gaming centres could help reshape town centres, but planning restrictions alone will not solve the problems facing Britain’s high streets, a personal finance expert has warned. The proposed changes would give local authorities greater scope to control the concentration of certain businesses in their communities, potentially limiting the number of betting shops, adult gaming centres and vape stores opening in particular areas.

Joe Lytwyn, personal finance expert at thimbl.com, said the measures could be significant in communities where gambling premises have become particularly prominent. “Giving councils greater control could make a meaningful difference, particularly in areas where betting shops and adult gaming centres have become heavily concentrated. “When households are under financial pressure, the promise of a quick win can become more appealing. However, gambling losses could deepen an already difficult financial situation. If these businesses are highly visible and easily accessible, we could present gambling as a normal part of everyday spending rather than something carrying a genuine financial risk.”

But reducing the number of betting shops on the high street would not necessarily reduce access to gambling, he warned. With betting and gaming available through smartphones and other devices, the risks remain largely unaffected by the number of physical premises. “Planning rules could reduce the visibility of gambling on high streets, but they will not remove the underlying financial risk. People can still access betting and gaming platforms online within seconds, regardless of how many physical premises are permitted in their area. The proposals could therefore help change the appearance and balance of town centres, but they should not be viewed as a complete answer. Any attempt to address the financial impact of gambling must also recognise how easily it can now be accessed through phones and other devices.”

The same tension applies to the wider ambition of regenerating struggling high streets. Restricting certain businesses may alter the mix of shops, but it does not automatically create viable alternatives to fill the space they leave behind. “Planning restrictions alone will not revive the high street. If councils block new premises but the units remain empty because other businesses cannot afford to take them on, the underlying problem has not been solved. An empty shop is not a revived high street. The government must also consider why independent retailers, hospitality venues, and essential local services are struggling to occupy these spaces in the first place.”

For Lytwyn, the challenge is therefore less about deciding which businesses should be allowed to open and more about making high-street premises viable for the businesses communities actually need. “If the government wants a broader mix of businesses to return to high streets, it must make town-centre premises financially viable for them. Business rates, commercial rents, energy costs, and reduced footfall can all make opening a physical location extremely difficult. Giving councils the power to reject certain businesses tackles one side of the issue. The other side is making it easier for communities to open and sustain the businesses they genuinely want.”

There is also a question of how consistently the new powers would be used. Giving councils greater control could allow decisions to reflect local circumstances, but it could also produce markedly different outcomes between neighbouring areas. “Local councils understand their communities, so it makes sense for them to have a greater say. However, there is a risk that the outcome could depend on the resources, priorities, and planning capacity of each authority.

“Some councils may use the new powers extensively, while others may struggle to do so. Clear national guidance and transparency around local decisions could help ensure financially vulnerable communities are not left with weaker protections simply because of where they live.”

The argument ultimately puts the proposed crackdown in a wider context: controlling what appears on the high street may change its appearance, but rebuilding it requires tackling the economics that determine which businesses can survive there in the first place.