Almost 800 traders turned away from Market Hall

Derby Market Hall reopened in May

Derby City Council has turned down more than 780 traders who wanted to move into units inside the city's revamped Market Hall, according to figures provided to the BBC.

A Freedom of Information request by the BBC found only 29 out of 818 applications for units were accepted by the council, based on unit "availability and intended use".

Diagrams of the building reveal a layout featuring 43 units across two floors along with space for dozens of pop-up stalls also located at ground level. However several units remain unoccupied.

The council said it was aiming to "carefully curate" stalls that highlighted "local talent and independent traders, while offering a diverse range of goods".

Some of the units inside Derby Market Hall are still unoccupied since it reopened

Council figures also showed that 431 traders have been accepted to rent a pop-up stall and only three were rejected from doing so.

Leader of the authority, Nadine Peatfield said: "We keep all applications on file for future opportunities and all traders with an interest are welcome to apply."

She said the authority looked at a number of applications for stalls before the hall reopened in May.

"We had a considerable number of applications for stalls, predominantly for hot food, which were thoroughly considered.

"With 10 units available for the sale of hot food, many of these applications could not be progressed at the time but we are continuing to explore a range of options.

"When considering an application, we look at the availability and intended use of each unit, the nature of the business and whether it is likely to succeed in the Market Hall," Peatfield said.

The council is still advertising for people to apply to become a trader at the Market Hall

Katie Gibson, owner of the food business Derby Pyclets, said she was a trader at the Market Hall before the £35m revamp began three years ago.

The 40-year-old, from Derby, said she applied to rent a pop-up store because of the company's "history" with the building.

Ms Gibson said she received no response from the council when she contacted them to ask why she was unsuccessful and to enquire about "different opportunities".

In its reply to the BBC's Freedom of Information request, the council said "information was not held" as to why potential traders were rejected.

Katie Gibson was located at the Market Hall before its £35m revamp began three years ago

Ms Gibson said she was "quite surprised" to see empty stalls inside the hall despite the number of trader applications the council received.

"To see them open with quite a few empty stalls, with most of them in there being pop-up stalls only there for a week or so, was quite shocking, to be honest.

"What they've done with the actual building is absolutely stunning. The restoration is absolutely amazing and they've got a good mix of food and entertainment, but the market side of it has just been completely lost," she said.

Ms Gibson said she would return to the Market Hall if it was "financially viable".

A document given to potential traders shows rental for a unit ranges between £4,242.00 and £12,172.00 annually, with smaller pop-up stalls costing £15 a day.

The city council leader said "an exciting new wave of traders" for the hall would be announced soon.

"We're continuing to build on the Market Hall's success by recruiting new traders and offering local creatives the chance to showcase their work through affordable pop-up stalls," Peatfield said.