Prime Minister backs call for action from experts on vape shops and fast food outlets
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced that local authorities will be granted greater powers to regulate high street outlets such as betting shops and vape shops. The move marks a significant policy shift, and it directly reflects recommendations made in a recent report by a group of academics.
The was published earlier this year by Health Equity North and the Northern Health Science Alliance, and was co-authored by The University of Manchester’s Dr Luke Munford who acts as the Academic Co-Director of Health Equity North. This was the first comprehensive national analysis of how the availability of different types of high street outlets has changed over the past decade.
It highlighted the rapid decline of health-promoting amenities on Britain’s high streets - including public toilets, libraries and pharmacies - alongside a sharp rise in health-reducing outlets such as betting shops, fast food outlets and vape retailers.
The report revealed that the number of vape shops in England has increased by nearly 1,200% since 2014, with deprived communities - particularly in the North of England - hosting over three times more of these than affluent ones, exacerbating health inequalities and worsening the North-South health divide.
One of the key recommendations was that local authorities should be given enhanced powers to regulate the proliferation of these unhealthy outlets. The announcement from the Prime Minister demonstrates the tangible impact of evidence-based advocacy, and underlines the crucial role that universities play in shaping national policy.
It’s fantastic to see our research having such a direct impact on national policy. For too long, local communities - especially in the North - have had little say over the types of outlets that dominate their high streets. Giving councils more power to act is a crucial first step toward rebalancing our town centres and tackling the health inequalities that have grown worse in recent years.
“However, if we want to create high streets that truly support healthier, fairer communities, we must also invest in bringing back vital amenities like libraries and community hubs - regulating unhealthy outlets is important, but we also need to create positive alternatives that give people better choices. The Prime Minister’s announcement is progress, but now we need some real ambition."
This success highlights the importance of academic research in tackling some of society’s most pressing challenges. As the government takes steps to empower local authorities, the researchers will continue to work with policymakers, communities and partners across the UK to ensure that high streets can once again thrive as healthy, inclusive spaces.