**Financial Hurdles Force Closure of Mumbles’ Underhill Community Hub**
A well-regarded community hub in Mumbles is set to close its doors less than two years after opening, following insurmountable financial difficulties. The Underhill Hub, which first welcomed the public in July 2023 and subsequently launched its all-weather pitch, has announced it will cease operations owing to a devastating business rates burden.
The facility, operated by Underhill Management Company (UMC) and owned by the charitable Mumbles Community Association (MCA), was initially seen as a beacon for local engagement. The hub drew on considerable funding, receiving grants from not only Mumbles Community Council but also the Welsh Government, Swansea Council, and various other bodies. Despite these significant investments, sustaining the centre on a day-to-day basis proved untenable.
Issues surfaced in August 2024 when the hub was allocated what has been described as a “staggeringly high” rateable value (RV) of £100,000. As a result, the operating company was faced with business rates totalling over £93,000 covering the financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25. For a community-focused enterprise, such sums proved crippling and unsustainable, with attempts at relief falling short.
UMC had anticipated eligibility for charitable relief on these rates, due to the ownership structure involving the charity MCA. However, as Underhill was operated as a private limited company, it was denied such relief. This technicality, despite the charitable intentions behind the venture, left the hub responsible for three years of backdated business rates—an eye-watering total exceeding £67,000 even after a partial Retail and Hospitality relief of 40% was granted.
Stressing the urgency of the situation, MCA trustees and UMC directors revealed that there simply isn’t enough time to complete the necessary appeals process before payment deadlines expire. This led to the reluctant decision to enter voluntary creditors’ liquidation, with a liquidation specialist being brought in to oversee the operational wind-down. Saturday 12 July will be the last day the hub’s facilities—including the main communal space, the changing rooms, and the renowned all-weather pitch—will be available for use.
Efforts are now under way to ensure that the loss of the hub is only temporary. MCA has committed to working with funding partners to identify a new operator or owner for Underhill, with the expressed aim of reopening the facilities to serve the local community as swiftly as possible. The closure, however, has undoubtedly left residents and local groups concerned about the future.
Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart responded to the development, confirming the Council had employed every available legal measure to support UMC during its financial struggles. He acknowledged the disappointment the closure brings, particularly for the clubs and organisations that make regular use of the hub’s sports pitches. The council leader added that alternative arrangements were being explored to ensure continued access for these groups during the transition to new management.
Councillor William Thomas, representing the Mumbles Ward, echoed the prevailing frustration regarding the business rates assessment. He described the rateable value as “crazy” and emphasised that the protracted appeal process played a significant role in exacerbating the financial distress facing both the charity and UMC. Stakeholders are now urgently convening to discuss potential ways forward.
Amongst the local users of the facilities, Mumbles RFC—a community rugby club—has voiced its sadness regarding the closure. The club issued a statement via social media acknowledging the uncertainty, while also expressing its gratitude to the hub’s dedicated staff. Officials from the club reassured members that they were in talks with relevant parties to maintain pitch access, and pledged to keep their community abreast of any further developments.
As things stand, the imminent closure of Underhill Hub highlights the enduring precariousness of community initiatives when confronted by bureaucratic and financial hurdles. The determination among local leaders and groups to secure a sustainable future for these valued amenities, however, remains steadfast. Community members across Mumbles and the wider Swansea area will now be watching closely, hoping a new solution is found to ensure the hub’s long-term survival.