A commercial retailer has outbid a charity to take over the lease of a shop unit in an area in which the growing number of charity shops has been criticised.

A photography shop is due to open at the former Moben's kitchen and bathroom store in London Road, Headington, Oxford, this month.

The new company, whose name has not been revealed, will sell cameras and carry out film processing.

Tom Barton, of VSL and Partners, the Kidlington-based company responsible for leasing the shop, said: "We had quite a lot of interest from charity shops. There were very few retailers interested.

"We have had lots of calls from companies like bookmakers but we have had to turn them down."

The shop has planning permission for A1 usage, which means only retail shops can use it.

For a bookmaker to have moved in to the shop, they would have had to apply for a different kind of planning permission from the city council.

VSL opted to lease the shop to the photography firm, rather than a charity shop, because the company made a better rental offer.

Mr Barton expected the new shopkeepers would sign the lease next week and move in at the end of this month.

According to the Local Plan -- a blueprint for the future development of the city -- Oxford City Council wants more retailers, as opposed to cafes, takeaways, estate agents and bookmakers, in Headington.

Traders, shoppers and householders had been speculating as to who would move into the shop, which occupies space between Sketchleys dry cleaner's and Cartridge World.

Cartridge World manager David Lincoln said a butchers shop was needed, after the suburb lost its previous two, one of which has now been pulled down to be turned into flats and a shop.

Tony Joyce, chairman of the co-ordinating committee of Headington residents' associations, said: "What Headington needs is a better variety of retail shops.

"I wouldn't have minded if it had become a charity shop, but Headington does already have a high number of charity shops, and I'd prefer it to become an independent retailer."

Headington Business Association chairman Michael Ponting said: "The more variety we have the more chance we have of bringing shoppers into Headington."

Auriol Hamer, of Highfield Residents' Association, said: "Headington isn't the shopping area it once was, and we have got enough food outlets, there are quite a few takeaways on London Road."

Later this month, the Bristol and West Building Society in London Road is set to close.