Stockport has the fifth-most empty shop units in its town centre, a new study suggests, but council bosses say the figures are 'skewed'.
Data from Property Inspect shows that the town has 9.62 empty units per 10,000 residents — well above the UK average of 6.17.
What makes the figure even starker is that Stockport’s neighbour Manchester is third-best on the 50-strong list, with 2.92 empty shops per 10,000.
Meanwhile, Bolton's rate of 8.66 makes it eighth-worst in the country. However, council bosses in Stockport say the numbers are 'skewed' because the 'town centre currently has low residential population in comparison to the much wider catchment that it serves.' One councillor, who heads up SMBC's regeneration efforts, added the authority
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