A LONG-running planning dispute looks to be at an end after the secretary of state cleared the latest scheme for a Brighouse hotel and restaurant.

Fresh alterations at Casa, Elland Road, will create a downsized scheme after a large extension was built without the correct permission.

Calderdale Council's planning committee passed the revised plans in September, but a final sign off from the secretary of state was required.

Its decision to not call in the application was received earlier this week and stated: "In deciding whether to call in the application, the secretary of state has considered his policy on calling in planning applications.

"This policy gives examples of the types of issues which may lead him to conclude, in his opinion that applications should be called in.

"The secretary of state has decided, having had regard to this policy, not to call in the application.

"He is content that the application should be determined by the local planning authority."

It is nine years since plans were first submitted for an extension on the site, but the start of the controversy was when a larger-than-approved extension was built, prompting enforcement action and revised plans to be submitted.

In May a revised scheme was rejected by planning committee members, despite officers’ recommendations for approval.

Further alterations at the business were submitted shortly afterwards.

Both proposals involved demolishing part of the original building and changing the colour of the whole building, from white to earthy tones.

An outside terrace area to the east has also been removed from the plans.

Casa originally lost a planning appeal in 2015 over the large extension it had built without the correct planning permission.

Bosses were initially told they had nine months to demolish the three-storey addition.

But a subsequent High Court appeal last year quashed that decision.