THE owners of a Brighouse hotel and restaurant will learn today if their proposal to demolish part of the original building will put an end to a long-running planning row.

The company which runs the Casa Hotel and Restaurant lost a planning appeal in 2015 over a large extension built without the correct planning permission.

Castelite Ltd was initially told it had nine months to demolish the three-storey addition to the Elland Road building.

But a subsequent High Court appeal last year quashed that decision, and after negotiations with Calderdale Council planners, a revised scheme was submitted.

Members of the authority’s planning committee will decide whether to grant planning permission for the latest proposals, which are being recommended for approval.

In a statement, the applicant states that the new scheme will reorganise the premises by demolishing some of the older parts of the building, and move those uses into the recently-built extension.

“As part of this exchange there is an opportunity to redesign the internal spaces to accommodate those uses and also to change the external design and materials so as to have a less intrusive appearance.

“The surrounding site will be landscaped to restore the wooded setting and this includes part of the areas used for car parking without losing spaces.”

The scheme involves reducing the volume of the venue by 20 per cent from the appeal plans as well as changing the colour of the building from white to cream and brown.

Planning officers believe that although the site is in the green belt there are very special circumstances, such as increased jobs, economic benefits and the minimised disruption through conditions around the new terrace facility.

They state in their report: “The proposed scheme, which is a result of extensive discussions with the applicant, does retain the large extension.

“However, the proposed alterations to the external appearance coupled with the alterations and demolition works to existing original buildings and provision of single pitched roof and flat roof terrace area, does provide an overall smaller but much more coherent scheme.

“It remains prominent due to its size, but the proposed colours and textures fit more comfortably into the landscape, than the refused scheme and assist with reducing its impact.”

A decision will be made at a planning committee meeting which takes place today at 2pm at Halifax Town Hall.