A multi-million pound development for Brighouse drawn up seven years ago will go ahead despite massive delays.

That is the message from Elland developer CDP and Calderdale Council, who drew up a binding agreement in 1998 to redevelop the site of Sugden Mill.

Detailed plans for shops, a swimming pool and road bridge will be debated by planners soon.

But many in Brighouse believe the scheme itself is outdated and want changes to be made to the plans.

The town's councillors are divided over the scheme.

James Marshall of CDP said he was committed to the development, which would see the pool and bridge built first.

"If the Council wants to change they would have to break the agreement and re-tender," he warned.

A number of compulsory purchase orders have been served on landowners.

Mr Marshall is expecting the land purchase to go to a public inquiry at the end of the year because of continued opposition from mill owner Younger Homes.

The inquiry could also decide the matter of closing Mill Royd Street - something which has attracted massive objection from Brighouse residents.

Many predict further congestion if the street closes, despite a new link road and bridge going in its place.

Mr Marshall said: "The scheme is not outdated and would include catalogue shops, fashion stores and sports outlets."

He said CDP had tried to buy the site from Associated British Food in 1997 but Younger Homes outbid him, paying what he thought was over the odds for it.

Adrian Rose, from the Council's regeneration team, said the development agreement had 18 months to run but Mr Marshall could apply for an extension should there be delays he cannot control.

He added: "The situation is that CDP was selected as the best option and the agreement means that the Council is legally tied in with that developer."

Once all these obstacles have been overcome - the planning permission, compulsory purchase orders and permission to close the road - the development can finally go ahead.

Bill Ibberson, of Younger Homes, said his concept would not involve the closure of Mill Royd Street, which has become the main sticking point for residents, and it would still offer a new road bridge and swimming pool.

He said objectors felt the CDP scheme was being forced on them by Calderdale Council and it was not what Brighouse residents wanted.

He added that the road closure and compulsory purchase orders would need to be completed before the Council's agreement with CDP ran out.