Rochdale Council has left the door open for reconciliation with Hopwood DePree just over a month after the High Court ruled against the American filmmaker's bid to buy the Grade-II listed Hopwood Hall for £1.
Mr DePree, who claims ancestral connections with the 15th-century stately home in Middleton, had entered an option agreement with the council in 2017 to restore the hall. The council terminated that agreement in October 2024, leading Mr DePree to argue he had a legally binding agreement to purchase the hall for a 'peppercorn fee' of £1.
In September, following a two-day trial at Manchester Civil Justice Centre, the court ruled that the council was not acting unlawfully when it ended the exclusivity agreement. The High Court found that the 'change of use' planning approval granted in 2022 was not enough to trigger the option to purchase the hall for £1, and Mr DePree's claim was lost.
Open letter sets out terms
Now, Mr DePree has issued an open letter to town hall bosses setting out his terms for a resolution discussion. This comes after council leader Neil Emmott told the latest town hall meeting his 'door is always open' to Mr DePree, adding that if Mr DePree came back with a viable plan for the future of Hopwood Hall, the council would listen.
Both sides have said a costly court battle could have been avoided. But Mr DePree's open letter suggested it was the council that took 'an incredibly aggressive legal route of termination and locking them out of Hopwood Hall'. The council has always maintained that the volunteer group was barred due to safety reasons.
Mr DePree wants the council to release documents about communications between authorities regarding their dealings with the hall, commission an independent review, correct inaccurate public statements about his community-led effort, and pause further action in the ongoing legal proceedings to enter into discussions for an amicable solution.
Appeal deadline approaches
In his letter, Mr DePree said: "I hope we can find an amicable resolution for Hopwood Hall. At the October 15, 2026 public council meeting, you stated that your 'door is always open' and 'Rochdale council is willing to listen' if I come forward with a sustainable plan, following the council's unexpected termination of our community-led rescue in 2024."
He added: "I would welcome constructive discussions but they must begin with a clear explanation of why our previous proposal was rejected. Nearly two years after our heritage team was locked out, the council still has not provided meaningful answers and continues to refuse to release documents and communications about decisions taken."
Mr DePree's legal team has another two weeks to decide whether to appeal the High Court decision. The court has directed that any application for permission to appeal must be lodged by November 18, 2026, although there is scope for this deadline to be extended to November 28, 2026.
Council response
A council spokesperson said: "The council successfully defended the High Court claim concerning Hopwood Hall and, as the period in which the claimant may seek permission to appeal has not yet expired, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the proceedings or the issues raised in the open letter at this stage.
"We remain focused on securing a sustainable future for Hopwood Hall, once the legal process has concluded."
At the latest town hall meeting, Coun Emmott said: "The High Court's judgment in relation to Hopwood Hall does not necessarily mark the end of the legal process.
"Mr DePree has the right to seek permission to appeal the decision. The court has directed that any application for permission to appeal must be lodged by November 18, 2026, although there is scope for this deadline to be extended to November 28, 2026.
"The council was awarded total costs of £114,000. I can confirm these monies will be reinvested into the project. As part of any appeal process, Mr DePree would be required to make a payment into court of approximately £80,000 towards Rochdale council's legal costs.
"Should Mr DePree pursue an appeal, he would first need to obtain the court's permission to proceed. This would require him to demonstrate that the proposed appeal has a real prospect of success or that there is another compelling reason for it to be heard.
"Only Mr DePree and his legal advisers can determine whether an appeal is pursued. It is understandable that emotions remain strong within the local community, particularly among those volunteers who have dedicated considerable time and effort to the Hopwood Hall project. However, the council cannot move forward until the matter of the appeal is settled.
"I can, though, assure the council and the people of Middleton that we remain focussed on the future of Hopwood Hall and the opportunities that now exist to secure its long-term restoration and preservation. More than £1.6m has already been spent on repairs to the hall by the council and Historic England. We will continue to invest in vital repairs to this historic building.
"Whatever the future holds for Hopwood Hall, this building, once restored and refurbished, will be used for the benefit of the wider community of Middleton who rightly cherish it as an important part of Middleton's rich and varied heritage."
