People in the UK favour handing empty high street sites to community groups until a permanent use can be found

Most people favour putting empty shops to community or charity use to keep high streets vibrant, according to new research.

A survey commissioned by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), found seven in 10 people in the UK favoured handing empty high street sites to community groups until a permanent use can be found.

The polling comes just days after a report by the British Retail Consortium revealed one in 10 high street shops in the UK are currently empty, with that figure rising to one in eight in Scotland.

CAF found that 78% of people want empty high street shops to be filled as soon as possible, rising to 87% of those aged 65+, with older people conventionally more reliant on their local high street than younger generations.

The research highlights a trend that has been concerning people for a decade.

In addition the polling reveals that 37% of people aged 16 and above regularly shop in their local charity shop, equivalent to over 20 million people; there are believed to be over 11,000 charity shops in the UK. 62% of those polled believe charity shops provide a valuable service on their local high street, rising to 66% of women.

Commenting on the findings, Susan Pinkney, head of research at CAF, said: “Charity shops have thrived in the UK for generations, which is no great surprise considering just how supportive most people are of charities in this country.

“It’s amazing to see that over 20 million British people regularly pop to a charity shop, and clearly there is an appetite to see empty shops used in a way that supports the local community.

“Everyone wants to see our high streets thrive, and charity and community shops can be a great way to offer a valuable service while keeping our town centres bustling with activity.”