American filmmaker Hopwood DePree had been involved in a legal battle with Rochdale Borough Council over the ‘Downtown Shabby’ building. However, according to the latest reports, the director ended up losing out on the High Court battle against Rochdale Borough Council to secure ownership of Hopwood Hall, a 60-room, 600-year-old Grade II*-listed mansion in Middleton, Greater Manchester.
Hopwood DePree loses out on the legal battle for the ownership of Downtown Shabby
BBC reported that the court denied the filmmaker, who had appealed to buy the house to turn it into a wedding venue, offer hotel accommodation, and incorporate visitor attractions. Talking to PEOPLE about the verdict, DePree shared that it was a big blow when the judge ruled; however, he is not backing down.He shared, “Please know that my team and I are already determining our legal options and next steps. We will be watching closely to keep an eye on Rochdale Borough Council’s efforts to save Hopwood Hall for the community and restore it to its former glory.”
How and why did Hopwood DePree file the case?
DePree had mainly grown up in the US, where he would often hear stories of his family’s distant connection to the English estate. Years later, when he visited Hopwood Hall, he found it in complete shambles, suffering from issues like roof collapses, severe water damage, and dry rot. As an adult, he left Los Angeles and moved to Greater Manchester to rescue the home, documenting his experience in his 2022 memoir, ‘Downton Shabby: One American’s Ultimate DIY Project.’DePree struck a deal with Rochdale Borough Council in 2017, who were listed as the rightful owners of the property. Under this agreement, he could acquire the legal title to the mansion for GBP 1, only if he could secure all of the necessary planning permissions and present a viable funding model to complete the estimated GBP 30 million to GBP 40 million restoration.
Hopwood DePree invested a lot in the property to restore it
DePree was determined about the historical building. He invested years and thousands of dollars into the project to fund its restoration. He also established a charity called the Hopwood Foundation and invested roughly GBP 750,000 to GBP 1 million of his own to raise funds to stabilize the estate, repair roofs, and secure the structure alongside local volunteers from the area.
Hopwood DePree overlooked a lot of the construction in the barren mansion, and started a charity to collect funds for its restorations. (Instagram)
How and why did Hopwood DePree file for a lawsuit?
During the trial hearing, the Council argued that DePree had failed to fulfill the contractual needs discussed in 2017. They specifically stated that the main issue was with financing guarantees and updated planning permissions. Following this, the council locked him out of the premises. DePree sued the council, claiming they had changed the terms on their own and that securing GBP 30 million in private/grant funding was impossible without having secured legal control of the property first.The outlet reported that after hearing everyone’s sides, High Court Judge David Hodge ruled in Manchester that the conditions required for DePree to claim ownership under the 2017 agreement were not met, which is why he should not be allowed to buy out the property. While talking to the BBC, a spokesperson from the council shared, “It’s a shame that we had to endure a costly court battle to get to this point, as the time and money invested in this process could have been better spent on the hall itself.” The report also shared that the council had spent GBP 1.5 million already on the property’s maintenance.
Who is Hopwood DePree?
Hopwood DePree is an American-British director and actor who was born and brought up in Holland, Michigan, with his parents, Thomas DePree and Deanna, and his two siblings. In Hollywood, he has worked as an actor, writer, director, and producer. His screen credits include writing and directing independent films such as ‘Rhinoskin: The Making of a Movie Star’ (1995) and ‘The Last Big Attraction’ (1999), as well as executive producing feature films like ‘Virginia’ (2010).
