Hotel’s extension decision put off

The four-day public hearing began last week to decide on the plans of the revised extension at the Casa Hotel on Elland Road, Brighouse, and if an enforcement notice to remove the building should stand.

The inquiry was conduced by inspector Ahsan Ghafoor at Halifax Town Hall, but a final decision may not be known until the end of August.

Ian Gray, Calderdale Council’s director of economy and environment, said: “The Casa public inquiry has been adjourned to July 8 and 9, 2015, when the Planning Inspectorate will hear the closing submissions from Casa and the council and will carry out an accompanied visit to Casa.

“After that, we estimate that the Planning Inspectorate’s decision should be known by late August,” he added.

Casa currently employs 47 people but bosses said that if the expansion of the business could be secured, this number could rise to 80.

The company was also prepared to make the argument that through council officers, they were aware of the revised plans for the three storey extension.

However, Calderdale Council has argued that economic benefits associated with the appeal scheme, jobs and revenue generated for the local economy, fail to clearly outweigh that harm that is being done to the Green Belt.

They also said it was impossible for owners of the Casa Hotel to make an accurate assessment of the benefits the extension would bring.