PLANS to revitalise an industrial wasteland with a shopping centre and swimming pool have been backed by London's Court of Appeal.

The way is now open for the scheme to go ahead on the Sugden's Mill site, Brighouse.

Three judges ruled against a claim by Younger Homes (Northern) that the environmental impact of the scheme had not been properly investigated.

The judges said Younger Homes had failed to show they were the victims of "substantial prejudice" as a result of the way in which the planning decision was taken.

Permission could not therefore be challenged.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, granted outline planning permission in 2002 for development on the 10-acre site, bounded by Huddersfield Road, Bridge Road, the River Calder and the Calder and Hebble Navigation Canal.

The judges felt that some regulations had not been complied with, but non-compliance was not sufficient to block the granting of planning consent.