Fire-ravaged Huddersfield strip club could become ‘luxury’ student accommodation.

New ‘luxury’ student housing could be brought to a Huddersfield blight which once housed a restaurant and strip club.

Chutney Mahal was a much-loved Huddersfield restaurant which was opposite Folly Hall Mills in Lockwood, in the same building as the gentleman’s club, Mystique. Disaster struck in 2012 when the premises caught fire, closing both businesses.

Now a developer – Folly Hall Residential Ltd – wants to breathe new life into the dilapidated building by turning it into student flats. The plans would see the existing building extended to provide 32 rooms, as well as a reception, gym and communal area, over four floors.

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The developer describes the building as a “bottleneck” that could be put to better use by housing the city’s students. A supporting document says: “The building (and surrounding area) has evolved considerably due to downtown changes and downtown trends.

“This part of the city was originally very different from what is visible today. The building is in a bad state following a previous fire and has not been used since then.” The building reached such a deplorable state that it was ravaged by a series of fires.

The first broke out at Mystique in 2012, which was located above the Indian restaurant. While the fire did not reach the restaurant itself, water did seep through its ceilings as crews battled the flames. It was later revealed that an arsonist had been paid to start the fire.

Another fire occurred four years later, which started in the former restaurant, causing extensive damage, and in 2021, a fire revealed that the building was being used as a drug warehouse. A decision on the plans is expected by September 6, 2024.

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