Rochdale council leader Neil Emmott has vowed to bring the ‘cherished’ Grade-II listed Hopwood Hall back into use, following a High Court battle with American filmmaker Hopwood DePree. The two-day trial at Manchester Civil Justice Centre ruled that the council was not acting unlawfully when it ended an exclusivity agreement with Mr DePree.
High Court ruling and costs
Mr DePree entered an option agreement with the council to restore the hall in 2017, until that agreement was ended in October 2024. Since then, Mr DePree, who claims ancestral connections with the 1400s stately home, argued he had a legally binding agreement to purchase Hopwood Hall for £1.
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 a ‘peppercorn fee’ – £1. The council was awarded total costs of £114,000, which Coun Emmott confirmed will be reinvested into the project.
Appeal deadline and next steps
Speaking at a town hall meeting on October 15, Coun Emmott said the High Court’s judgment does not necessarily mark the end of the legal process. Mr DePree has the right to seek permission to appeal the decision, with any application due to be lodged by November 18, 2026, although there is scope for this deadline to be extended to November 28, 2026.
“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,” Coun Emmott said. “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.”
Coun Emmott said his ‘door is always open’ to Hopwood DePree, and if Mr DePree came back with a viable plan for the future of Hopwood Hall, the council would listen. He added that more than £1.6m has already been spent on repairs to the hall by the council and Historic England, and the council will continue to invest in vital repairs.
Community reaction and future vision
“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,” Coun Emmott said.
Mr DePree has not mentioned whether his team will appeal the decision. His vision was to transform the hall into a wedding and hospitality venue, with a hotel ‘retreat’, gift shop and guided tours all part of the package. His community-led team were in attendance at both days of the trial and shared their frustration following the result in September.
Speaking after the case, Mr DePree said: “Obviously I am incredibly disappointed. Not just me but the community of support around the world and the UK charitable groups as well. I am already discussing with my legal team about the next steps. In the meantime I hope Rochdale council will be watching over Hopwood Hall because we will be keeping an eye on them. We are not giving up. Hopwood Hall must be saved. In the two years we have been locked out the gardens have gone into wrack and ruin. I hope they will step up and save the hall. I still think the community group and I are the best people to take this forward. I am getting messages from around the world with people offering money and support. It is a sad day but we will have to have a look at our options.”
