Planning permission has been refused for a major extension to a Brighouse hotel and wedding venue that had already partly opened for business.

Now managers of the Elland Road Casa Hotel and Restaurant face having to tear down the three-storey extension, part of which has been hosting weddings and other events since May and they say that jobs could be affected.

It is the latest defeat in a series of fraught planning battles between Calderdale Council and Casa, which has also refused to take down a function marquee despite being ordered to do so by the planning committee after flouting their earlier ruling to refuse it.

Six councillors voted to refuse the Casa developers’ bid to construct the 40m x 20m venue , which would include two floors for functions and one for new businesses, due to concerns over impact on greenbelt land and the decision to start work without consent.

But Clr David Hardy expressed some sympathy to the venue owners, who estimated the creation of around 20 more jobs if the scheme was allowed to fully go ahead.

Commenting on the site, on which the lower ground floor has already been built and opened without consent, Brighouse councillor Howard Blagbrough, said: “I’d be the first person to welcome investment and jobs to the area but it would send mixed messages to residents if this was agreed retrospectively.

“The developer has clearly chosen to continue with many schemes without appropriate consent and to operate despite knowing that they are in breach of various planning regulations.”

Clr Ferman Ali, said: “They play games with talk of risks to employment.

“If they were sensible they would have had proper planning consent before they began work and should have thought what it may cost the business when they decided to go ahead. It’s their own fault.”

Commenting on the job prospects at the venue, which currently employs 52 people including apprentices, Clr Hardy, said: “The thought of jobs in jeopardy fills me with concern, especially in 2014 when we need to help youth employment.”

An enforcement order which requires the removal of the building has now come into force and investigations are continuing into the failure to comply with council rulings.

Hotel and restaurant group manager, Sam Holmes, said the decision was ‘ridiculous’ and that they would appeal it.

He said: “We’re obviously very upset because the business relies on development to keep open and it’s an important part of Brighouse’s economy and one of the area’s major wedding venues. We have several weddings and parties booked in for this year and 46 for next year.

“I can’t comment on the developers’ decision to proceed with the development.”