Gallery plans for former Mirfied nightclub

Mark Milnes wants to convert the former HQ nightclub in Huddersfield Road, Mirfield, into an arts space with a gallery and around eight studios.

He hopes to have secured planning permission by next month and have the gallery open to the public by the end of the year.

“It feels like Mirfield is up and coming,” Mr Milnes said.

“I think there is scope for something like this and it will hopefully bring more people into the town centre.”

Mr Milnes, 39, is an artist who works at Batley Art Gallery.

He set up his company, Creative Arts Hub, in May last year with a view to providing studio space for local artists.

“There has always been quite a demand for art studio space and there is not a lot in this area, so to be able to provide it seems like a good thing,” Mr Milnes said.

Initially Mr Milnes, of Calder View, Lower Hopton, had looked at setting up studios in Holme Bank Mills, Station Road.

But when fire safety issues posed problems, he started to investigate the possibility of leasing the empty nightclub in Huddersfield Road.

“It seems to make sense as a space,” Mr Milnes said.

“It’s a nice central location, there are good transport links and the space itself is good, especially if we are going to have some gallery space in there because it gets a lot of light in.

“And there is enough space for us to set up eight studios.

“We can set up studios to suit the needs of the artists, so if someone has got a budget they want to stick to, we can accommodate that within the plans that we have got.”