Applications to open 100-hour pharmacies flatlined over the government consultation period, despite fears there would be a flood of new applicants, a C+D investigation has found.

There was no difference between the number of applications made over the nine-month government consultation period between November 2011 and July 2012 and the same timeframe the year before, an FOI request submitted to 146 PCTs revealed.

The number of 100-hour applications during the consultation period was almost identical to the number submitted in the same period the year before

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Eighty-seven PCTs responded to C+D's request for data and 72 PCTs gave C+D data for both the 2010-11 and 2011-12 periods. There were 489 applications submitted to 72 PCTs between November 2011 and July 2012, compared with 490 the year before, according to the data. The findings dispel concerns raised at the time of the consultation that it would prompt a rush of new interest, with pharmacy organisations including PSNC, Alliance Healthcare and Day Lewis calling for a moratorium on applications.

"I am surprised that there wasn't a last-minute rush for applications last year, but I suspect that many may have already submitted their applications, anticipating the removal of the exemption earlier," said Debbie Mansell, pharmacy executive at healthcare brokers MediEstates.

Brokerage and advisory group Christie+Co suggested applications from independents may also have tailed off leading up to the removal. "It is unsurprising supermarkets have made a significant number of applications as they can afford to apply while they decide whether to open," said Matthew Williamson, director and head of pharmacy advisory services at Christie+Co.

"The independent sector now understands the 100-hour model and that it is really only sustainable in certain circumstances," he told C+D.