Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has said England's high streets have been "hollowed out" by "decades of decline" and pledged to clamp down on the proliferation of vaping shops and bookmakers on local shopping parades. He argues that the unchecked spread of such outlets has contributed to the decline of traditional high streets, pushing out more diverse retail and hospitality businesses and damaging the character of town centres.

Burnham's comments form part of a wider push to regenerate high streets across Greater Manchester and beyond, with planning restrictions on vaping shops and betting shops seen as one lever to encourage a broader mix of businesses. The intervention reflects growing political concern, echoed by other local and national figures, over the changing face of Britain's high streets amid ongoing pressures from online shopping and economic decline.