The number of charity shops in London increased at a rate of nearly one a week over the past two years, according to figures included in a new report.

As the rest of the high street struggles, charity shops – along with pawnbrokers, betting shops, cafes and supermarkets – have experienced a boom on London high streets. As of December 2012, there were 724 charity shops in London – up 15.7 per cent in two years from 626.

The figures were released yesterday within a report by London Councils on how to improve the diversity and economic activity on high streets in the capital.

While previous reports, such as that by retail guru Mary Portas, took a shot at charity shops as lowering the tone of the high street, the London Councils Streets Ahead report does not mention charity retail in either its recommendations or conclusions. Instead, the council consortium pushes for a range of infrastructure and tax measures to encourage more businesses and shoppers back onto the high street.

The report paints a depressing picture of the future of these traditional centres of commerce, suggesting that the high street proportion of all retail sales will fall to 40 per cent by 2014 and that shop vacancy rates on Britain’s worst-hit streets could reach 50 per cent by 2015.

But against this backdrop of traditional businesses struggling, charity retail has been booming. Charity shops have been experiencing growth across the country for a few years now, with the last Charity Shops Survey, released in October 2012, posting a 14.3 per cent increase in the total income from charity shops to record highs.

The 2012 report found that 266 new charity shops had been added across the UK over the year, to reach 6,233 by 2012 (based on a sample of 74 charity retailers). 

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