Dispute halts Hopwood Hall restoration between the council and actor Hopwood DePree, sparking community division and uncertainty.
Rochdale Council owns Hopwood Hall. They have a dispute with Hopwood DePree, a Hollywood actor from California who led the hall’s redevelopment plans. DePree moved to Middleton ten years ago. He wanted to restore his family’s home.
The council made an agreement with him in 2017, but it ended abruptly last October. The council claims DePree lacked progress. They want to speak with other investors now. This was prevented by the prior agreement.
Historic England invested £368,000 and is concerned about the hall’s future. They support community involvement and want a sustainable future that celebrates both history and community. The council says repairs will still occur.
DePree believes he has a binding purchase agreement, but the council disputes this claim. He spent about £581,000 on the project. DePree’s vision is now in ruins.
Local volunteers helped a lot, cleaning the gardens and the exterior. Plans included an outdoor cinema, workshops, a shop, and a hotel. Volunteers no longer have site access, straining the council and volunteers’ relationship. Locals showed anger and confusion at meetings, and they want DePree to remain in charge.
The council claims safety breaches led to the closure. They say the town owns the hall and they are responsible for site issues. Roof repairs will cost £600,000 soon.
The council will explore options for the hall’s use. DePree weighs a legal challenge now believing he can still purchase the hall, saying he already exercised that right.
DePree funded many rescue project efforts and moved from the USA to Rochdale. He trusted the council and its community but feels the council mistreated everyone. He doubts the council can care for the hall, citing the derelict state under their control. DePree cannot work with the council currently and wants a full investigation first.
Volunteers were “kicked to the curb,” he said believing they were disrespected fully. Volunteers dedicated time to rescue Hopwood Hall, and the lockout harmed their well-being.
The council says Hopwood Hall is a listed building, unused for years. In 2017, they made an options agreement that allowed DePree to buy the hall for a low fee. He needed a viable business model and detailed planning permission to do so.
The council renewed it several times. No business plan came forward, however. The council thinks the hall is key to Middleton and funded repairs with Historic England since. Almost £1.7 million invested in the building, which protected its future.
The council must protect public money and ensure the asset has a future. Consultants said DePree’s plan would lose money and thought it unlikely to get funding.
The council says DePree failed to produce a solid plan and gave him advice and support for years. Now, they need to explore new options, protecting the initial investment.
Council leader Neil Emmott said the hall matters to Middleton and the wider borough. Assets transfer carefully, since residents own them. DePree had conditions to fulfill.
Emmott says they held DePree to that agreement. Future plans will involve the local volunteers who put their heart into the restoration project. They want the community to stay active.