10 Sep 2025

 

Subject: Sulis Club development cancellation

 

Dear Vice-Chancellor and Members of the Executive Board,

 

We are writing on behalf of a broad coalition of stakeholders, including residents, climbing professionals, sporting bodies as well as University students and staff, to express concerns regarding the University’s decision to withdraw support for the renovation and community use of the Sulis Estate.While financial considerations appear to be the Universities primary driver, we would like to highlight the key social, civic and strategic benefits that align closely with the University’s Key Performance Indicators, that appear to have been overlooked but could offset such financial considerations.

 

The Case for the Sulis Redevelopment

 

Through hundreds of public comments, messages, emails and conversations with stakeholders, we have built a strong understanding of the issues surrounding the Sulis project. Below, using many of the stakeholders’ words, insight, sentiment, and information; we hope to relay the case for the Sulis Club redevelopment. All public comments are visible to the University through @uniofbath tagging on Instagram — as yet, no public comments have received feedback from the University.

 

Growing Demand: Climbing remains an internationally growing and Olympic sport. This is partly down to its accessibility and positive wellbeing outcomes. Bath remains one of the few cities in the UK without a climbing venue, despite the huge number of existing regular climbers and other potential beneficiaries. The social, financial and reputational benefits of a close relationship with a climbing centre for a University should not be underestimated, especially in a competitive international student market. Furthermore, as the city continues to grow, demand for green space and sports pitches with adequate facilities, such as those on the Sulis Estate, will become even more sought after and financially sustainable.

 

Institutional Alignment: Industry support from the UKs National Governing Body — The British Mountaineering Council (BMC), as well as the Association of British Climbing Walls (ABC) and National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme (NICAS); alongside numerous other coaches, climbers and advocates highlight the potential benefits to both the community and the University. The Leader of BANES Council also stated in a letter to Ascent that the Council “…understand the potential significance of this project to the city and wider community…”. More broadly, sporting bodies such as Bath Arsenal, Bath Cricket, Bath Combination Rugby and the West of England Active Partnership also support opening a dialogue to enable community sport to continue at the Sulis Club. Furthermore, the local Playing Pitch Strategy, formulated in collaboration with Sport England, repeatedly highlights the strategic importance and need to improve the sporting provision for continued community use at the Sulis Estate. Due to the unique position of the Sulis Estate within a strongly supported framework of environmental, ecological, sporting, heritage and deed restrictions and protections, any proposed change to its use, away from sport, are unlikely to find institutional or local support. Any such proposals could damage the Universities local reputation.

 

Quantifiable Impact: Sport England estimate that for every £1 spent on sport approximately £4 is realised in social value, through improved health, reduced absenteeism, increased productivity, and wider community benefits. A Social Return on Investment (SRoI) analysis forecasts a potential social value of over £1.56 Million per annum from a climbing wall at the Sulis Club. A significant amount (>380k annually) can be directly proportioned to forecasted UoB users. These calculations do not incorporate maturation of climbing locally, broader sports participation on site or the longer-term benefits associated with further operationalisation of the estate’s potential over time.

 

Strategic Opportunity: The University is uniquely placed to lead and benefit from this strategic and seminal opportunity. With a willing climbing partner, they would generate considerable appeal for current and prospective students across all-abilities with near-equal gender representation — a quality that isn’t necessarily the case in many other UoB sports, that can have perceived physical, social, technical and financial barriers to entry. Moreover, generating an elite training offering for Team Bath would further reinforce the University’s international reputation of sporting excellence — perhaps even contributing to the STV Hall of Fame one day. It is rare to find a project so well aligned with institutional values across performance, inclusion and community engagement.

 

Civic Responsibility: The decision appears inconsistent with the University’s commitment as a founding member of the Bath Civic Partnership Agreement; it's Royal Charter; designation as a (partially) publicly funded body and registered charity. All of which explicitly underscore the Universities responsibility to steward its assets in the public interest. Furthermore, despite the assertions to the contrary, the Universities annual financial reports indicate they are well-positioned to steward this project responsibly, rather than condemn its huge potential.Having already invested in the Sulis Clubs demolition works, it is difficult to reconcile the withdrawal of funding without a clear publicised plan for the sites future (other than the speculative aspirations within the Calverton Master Plan) and its civic obligations. This approach risks rendering the Sulis Estate a long-term liability rather than the vibrant and integrated University asset. This approach undermines trust in the University as one of Bath’s key anchor institutions.

 

Call for reconsideration: This is not just an issue of sport. It is about sustainability, wellbeing, inclusivity, and the responsible management of one of the University's key community resources. In the spirit of transparency, accountability, and shared purpose, we respectfully invite the Vice-Chancellor and the Executive Board to respond publicly to the following questions:

 

1. Does the University acknowledge the significant social value of the Sulis Club as a sporting asset for both the University and the broader community?

2. Given the decisions impact on community sport, how does this align with the University’s civic obligations and values as an Anchor Institution?

3. Given the Universities financial position, is the permanent cancellation of the project truly necessary?

4. Will the University commit to reopening a transparent dialogue regarding the future of Sulis Club as a sporting asset?

 

We urge you to reconsider this decision and engage in meaningful dialogue that reflects both the needs of the community and the strategic ambitions of the University. The Sulis Estate, its green space and the potential climbing collaboration represent an unparalleled opportunity to deliver lasting community impact and a unique legacy for the University. The Community welcome your prompt response and hope to collaborate on a path forward.

 

Yours Respectfully,

 

Jon Phelps

Ascent Climbing