Sheffield's struggling Moor Market's footfall 'improving'

Footfall has improved in a struggling South Yorkshire market, according to a local council.

Sheffield's Moor Market opened in 2013 to replace Castle Market, which traded for 54 years in the city.

The city council said that over the summer it saw an average of 2,000 more customers per week to the new market.

In July, the council announced a 50% rent discount after reports of "worrying" numbers of shoppers and empty units.

When the market opened in 2013 the council predicted 100,000 visitors a week, but by May 2014 there were 49 empty stalls and only 54,000 people visiting each week.

Occupancy is now at 77% with 41 vacant units, and 56,000 visitors a week.

Moor Market letting officer Tanya Miles, admitted it had not been an easy time for traders next to empty units, but said: "It's all looking good, we've got a lot of interest in the empty stalls so we're hoping to fill those.

"We've had a few new traders on the general stalls too."

Damian Maxfield, who recently opened a stall selling specialist sweets from around the world, said trade was "far, far better" than expected.

"You might not have as many people but the spend is a lot higher here [than elsewhere in the city]," he said. "There's a varied bunch of shoppers."

Sean Clarke, who runs a speciality beer stall, said: "I can't say if there's been a major step forward but people are clearly buoyed by new traders.

"I love that The Moor is beginning to buzz too, with lots of summer events and people can see the cinema being built. There's much more positive thought about The Moor."

The redevelopment, including nine-screen cinema, is due for completion by early 2017.