New rules will give Hertsmere Borough Council and local residents a stronger say over vape shops and adult gaming centres, tougher powers against rogue premises, and new tools to improve the appearance of our town centres.
Communities across Hertsmere are set to get a much bigger say over the future of their high streets under major new measures announced by the Labour Government.
The package will strengthen the hand of councils like Hertsmere Borough Council, giving local people greater influence over what opens in their town centres and new tools to tackle some of the issues residents increasingly raise about their high streets.
Under the plans, vape shops and adult gaming centres will become standalone planning categories from the beginning of next year. That means they will no longer be able to open under the same broad planning category as businesses such as coffee shops and clothes shops without first seeking planning permission. Councils will therefore be able to consider the location, number and impact of proposed premises before deciding whether they are right for an area.
It represents a significant change for communities which have watched the character of their high streets change while councils have had surprisingly limited powers to intervene.
Councils will also be given stronger powers to prevent vape shops opening in inappropriate locations, including near schools, and to tackle clusters of vape shops on individual high streets. The definition of a vape shop is also set to be tightened to prevent businesses avoiding the new rules by presenting themselves as general convenience stores when their main business is selling vaping products.
Giving councils a stronger voice on gambling
The Government is also proposing a major change to the rules governing gambling premises.
Ministers intend to consult on removing the so-called “aim to permit” rule introduced by the Gambling Act 2005. Currently, councils considering applications for gambling premises are legally required to approach them on the basis that gambling should generally be permitted where operators meet the relevant legal and licensing requirements.
Removing that duty would give councils considerably greater discretion to decide whether additional gambling premises are appropriate, particularly where communities are concerned about an over-concentration of venues.
Cllr Nik Oakley, Cabinet Member at Hertsmere Borough Council, welcomed the announcement.
“I absolutely welcome the use of the planning system to determine whether we want vape shops and gaming establishments in our high streets, as in recent years their growth has gone on unchecked.
“For too long councils and residents have had too little influence over the mix of businesses appearing in our town centres. Giving local communities a proper voice means we can support vibrant high streets while having much greater control over premises which may simply add to an existing concentration.”
Tougher action against rogue premises
The package goes further than planning.
The Government intends to double the maximum length of Closure Orders from six months to 12 months, giving police and councils more time to investigate premises suspected of links to organised crime and making it harder for rogue operators simply to reopen.
That means councils will have both stronger preventative planning powers and tougher enforcement tools when premises become a serious problem.
Raising the standard of Hertsmere’s shopfronts
There is also potentially important news for the look and feel of Hertsmere’s town centres.
Over the next six months, councils will receive support through the Planning Advisory Service to strengthen their approach to shopfronts and high-street design, including clearer expectations around signage, shutters, materials and overall appearance.
Cllr Oakley said this was another area where councils have needed stronger tools:
“We can only control the size and design of shop fronts on listed buildings and in conservation areas, so allowing us to control fascias on all buildings is considerably overdue.
“Our high streets are some of the most visible parts of our communities. Their appearance matters, and councils need the ability to work with businesses to make sure our town centres are attractive, welcoming places where people actually want to spend their time.”
Putting local people back at the heart of our town centres
The changes form the first stage of a wider Government programme for high streets, with a longer-term High Streets Strategy expected in the coming months focused on bringing life back into town centres, supporting businesses and making high streets places people want to visit and spend time in again.
For Hertsmere, the announcement could mean substantially greater local control over the future of our town centres — from Borehamwood and Potters Bar to Bushey and Radlett.
Cllr Oakley added:
“This isn’t about saying what every high street should look like or preventing legitimate businesses from trading. It’s about restoring a balance.
“The people who live in our communities should have a meaningful say in what their high streets become, and their elected council should have the tools necessary to respond.
“We want thriving town centres with a good mix of independent businesses, shops and services that people want to use. These changes give us more of the tools we need to work with our communities and businesses to achieve that.”
The Government says the measures announced this week are the first step in a wider programme to turn around struggling high streets, support local businesses and rebuild pride in town centres across the country.