US filmmaker in legal battle over 'Downton Shabby'
Summary
A former U.S. filmmaker, Hopwood DePree, is in a legal dispute with an English council over ownership of a historic home called Hopwood Hall. DePree claims he followed an agreement to restore and buy the hall, but the council says he did not meet the conditions and locked him out. The council spent funds on repairs and wants to ensure the hall's preservation.Key Facts
- Hopwood DePree moved from Los Angeles to Manchester in 2017 to restore Hopwood Hall.
- He signed an agreement with Rochdale Borough Council, allowing him to buy the hall for £1 if he got planning permission to develop it.
- DePree obtained planning permission in 2022 to refurbish the hall as an event venue and invested £750,000 of his own money.
- In November 2024, the council did not renew the agreement, citing a lack of a viable business plan from DePree.
- The council has spent £557,000 on essential repairs since 2017, with additional funds from Historic England.
- DePree disputes the council's claims and has taken legal action to become the hall's legal owner.
- The building has significant historical value, with parts dating back to the 1420s.
- The council argues that DePree's plans would not secure future public or private funding.
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