THE £5million regeneration of Newton Abbot’s historic Market Hall has been branded a ‘White Elephant’ after delays in its opening.

Teignbridge Council insists it is carrying out ‘necessary due diligence’ to make sure it is managed and operated ‘in a way that gives it the best possible chance to thrive, now and in the future’.

Now, the council’s deputy leader Cllr David Palethorpe has admitted it will be next spring before the hall opens.

He told the Mid Devon Advertiser: ‘I am as frustrated as everyone else but I am hopeful it will be open by the spring.

‘We have invested the best part of £5m in this part of the regeneration in Newton Abbot town centre.

‘We have now been handed back the finished hall but there are ongoing discussions and legal processes to go through.

‘We have a responsibility to tax payers to make sure it is right.

‘Before this, the market was costing £400,000 a year to run which was not sustainable.

‘So we are taking time and doing it properly and want to ensure it is sustainable in the future.’

The council is currently in negotiations with organisations which have bid to run the restored market which was due to have been reopened this autumn.

Several people have commented that the legal processes with a new operator should have been in place by now and carried out while the work was ongoing.

There will be 11 permanent stalls, five street food stalls and space for pop up units, either for trade stalls or events.

Construction work to transform the Grade II listed hall was delayed by bad weather before the completed project was handed back to Teignbridge Council.

Electricity has now been installed in the market square itself for the first time.

And Cllr Palethorpe has promised there will be events over Christmas.

Funded by the Government’s Future High Street Fund, the project began in November 2024 and renovation of part of the 1970s food hall, revealed the original Market Square frontage for the first time in decades and installed a new central staircase.

A council spokesman added: ‘We know many people are eager to see Market Hall open, and we share that enthusiasm.

‘However, we believe it’s important to take time to get things right and ensure the long-term success.

‘While we understand people’s frustration, taking the time now will help create a sustainable, vibrant destination for years to come.’

However, there have been complaints about the delays.

Former Mayor of Newton Abbot Mike Hocking said: ‘Well we know Teignbridge Council is unable to do anything without causing more problems, but to spend millions, then have it empty for months and not bring in any money to warrant the money spent, is just another example of poor management.’

Other commented it ‘looked like someone got paid a lot of money to stick glass all over it and call it revamped’.

They added: ‘It’s not an old market now, it isn’t anything like it was.

‘The whole square now looks like a dock full of containers.

‘We’re paying you to make this a success. Every day its empty it’s not earning money.’

Previous traders were moved into the former Post Office building but some have since moved into alternative premises in the town.