The West Pier market in Brighton could be made permanent if new plans are approved.

The market has been at the centre of controversy since Brighton and Hove Council served notices on the stallholders to quit, although they have carried on in defiance. Traders collected a 6,000-signature petition opposing the move.

Now the West Pier Trust has submitted a planning application to use both the beach and the pier deck as a street market. The trust collected an income towards restoration of the structure from the stallholders.

The traders were paying £500 a month to the trust although at present no fee is being collected. They have been there for three years.

Under the new application the use would be restricted to Saturdays and Sundays between April 1 and September 30. Dr Geoff Lockwood, trust chief executive, said: "We believe a market is of benefit to the trust for income and to the general public."

Dr Lockwood said the trust was keen to regularise the position. He added: "The market is twice as big as it was and is getting out of control."

Mayor Andy Durr, the councillor largely responsible for renovating the seafront, earlier this year suggested that the deck of the pier should be used for the market.

Meanwhile the trust is in discussions with new private sector partners St Modwen about restoring the 134-year-old pier.