Are there too many charity shops in Rochdale?

Charity shop

Charity shops have a huge advantage over retail shops due to significantly lower overheads. They pay greatly reduced rates, often get a better deal on the rent. Most staff work for nothing and stock in many cases is supplied free.

"The proliferation of charity shops is distorting the playing field for retailers, damaging public perception of many towns and taking away millions of pounds in business rates that could be used to revive our high streets," says Paul Turner-Mitchell, owner of Littleborough fashion boutique 25 Ten.

He said the "clustering" of such stores was particularly damaging and could hamper prospects for investment in town centres.

In a sample of 300 towns taken by The Local Data Company, charity shops have increased by 30 per cent over five years to 3,023 and there are estimated to be three times this figure in the UK.

Mr Turner-Mitchell said: "If charities could look at a broader range of ways to contribute to town centres while raising funds, I would argue that money could be better used to help small businesses and the economy get back on track."