A 30-year wait for a swimming pool could be at an end for Brighouse residents after the House of Lords threw out a bid to block the project.

The pool is part of a multi-million pound scheme to build a retail park, gym and a road bridge on the site of an historic former mill in the town centre.

Calderdale Council entered into an agreement to redevelop the land after Sugden Mill closed down in 1997.

However, the project stalled when the mill's owners - Associated British Foods - sold the building to Younger Homes which wants to use the site for housing.

The company called for a judicial review into the council's plans in 2002, but the Government Inspector upheld a decision to give the scheme outline planning permission.

Younger Homes then had two further appeals rejected by the High Court and Appeal Court.

Now the House of Lords has upheld the courts' decision meaning the company can no longer appeal.

Calderdale Council's detailed application includes a swimming pool, retail units, car park, drive-through restaurant and new road bridge.

It is planning to use a compulsory purchase order to force Younger Homes to sell the site Brighouse Councillor Colin Stout said: "This is what we need. The development will increase the size of the town centre and allow us to attract more national firms."

Adrian Rose, from Calderdale Council's regeneration team said: "When Brighouse's Urban District Council finished in 1974 and Calderdale Council was formed, getting a new swimming pool was its number one priority - so that gives you an idea of how long this has been going on for.

Bill Ibberson, the managing director of Younger Homes, was unavailable for comment.