A much-valued community centre in one of the most deprived parts of Halifax could be sold off if plans to hand it over to another group do not work out.

Calderdale Council’s cabinet members will be recommended to approve offering Mixenden Activity Centre (MAC) to another organisation to run via a community asset transfer when they meet on Monday, November 9.

But, should the transfer process “cease for any reason”, councillors are urged to agree the centre should be “disposed of on the open market”.

In the meantime, cabinet members are also recommended to agree that “wherever possible”, the council should enable any community groups that were using the building up until its closure last week to return.

placeholder image — Mixenden Activity Centre.

But they are warned that the centre will cost the council money once North Halifax Partnership (NHP) hands back the keys.

As reported previously by the Courier, NHP had been running the centre since it reopened last year and was working with the council when Labour was in charge on a bid to take over permanently via a community asset transfer.

But earlier this month, NHP said it had been informed that a “political decision” had been made at the now Reform-run council not to proceed with the proposed transfer.

NHP announced it would have to shut the centre on Friday, October 23 in order to have time to relocate staff and services, move equipment and clear the premises before having to hand back the keys to the building by November 20.

The news was met by dismay from many who had used the centre.

The Courier asked Calderdale Council for information about MAC’s future – and the decision made not to let NHP take it on permanently – several weeks ago, but has yet to receive a response.

The cabinet meeting report sheds the first light on what the council plans to do with the centre but not why the transfer to NHP was stopped.

It only states: “The community asset transfer to NHP was not approved to proceed by those with delegated authority."

Cabinet councillors are told holding costs for the vacant centre will be around £30,000 a year.

Mixenden Activity Centre: Community centre in one of most deprived parts of Hali...

Work is underway to work out what level of use there would be from the groups who used the centre before it shut once the council has the keys back.

"Additional cost elements that are likely to be incurred if the building provides interim use include staffing, utilities, repairs, IT provision and compliance,” says the report.

Re-offering the centre via a community asset transfer would result in a lengthy process estimated to take up to two years, adds the report.

"During this period holding costs will be incurred and if the process did not result in a successful transfer to a third party, then costs would continue to be incurred until the building was disposed of,” warns the report.

Cabinet members are also offered two other options – to immediately sell off MAC or for the council to reopen it and run the centre.

A “high-level estimate” of £150,000 was provided in December 2025 as what the centre could be sold for.

But a sale is not being recommended at this stage because it would mean the building would likely be lost for community use.

A council re-opening of the building is also not favoured.

"To re-open the property would require recruitment of staff to operate the building on a permanent basis with increased staff and occupational property costs,” says the report.

"Due to the additional costs this option would incur and that community groups with the requisite capacity and capability are better placed to provide and run these facilities, this option is not recommended.”