Actor Hopwood DePree Sues UK Council Over Ancestral Home Dispute

Hopwood DePree, an American actor, is initiating a legal case against Rochdale Borough Council (RBC) in the UK, as he seeks to reclaim his family's 500-year-old ancestral estate known as Hopwood Hall, located in Middleton, Greater Manchester. The legal dispute centers around an agreement made eight years prior, wherein DePree was allowed to buy the rapidly deteriorating hall for the nominal sum of £1, conditional on obtaining planning permission.

DePree alleges that RBC has been attempting to rid themselves of the property, which has fallen into disrepair since the council took over ownership in the late 1980s. In a court filing, he asserts that the council locked him and his volunteers out of the hall in November, despite having received planning approval in October 2022 for various uses including events and hospitality. He claims that RBC's claim that he needs additional planning permissions for physical renovations is a breach of their original agreement, which he interpreted differently.

A spokesperson for the council has refrained from commenting on the specifics of the case but highlighted that RBC had declined to extend the agreement due to a lack of a feasible business plan from DePree. The council has reportedly invested £1.7 million into the property, attempting to protect the public funding that has been allocated.

DePree expressed frustration over the situation, stating that he has forfeited significant personal resources and lost over £500,000 intended for renovations due to RBC's delays. He now seeks a High Court ruling to affirm that he has met his obligations under their agreement and is entitled to the property. Reflecting on his emotional connection to Hopwood Hall, he described the sense of beauty and history he perceived upon visiting the hall in 2013, and he expressed disappointment with RBC's actions, noting a lack of explanation for their withdrawal from the agreement.