Blairgowrie’s long-awaited £36 million Recreation Centre has officially opened its doors to the public today (Friday 29 August), marking a major milestone for the town and wider Eastern Perthshire.
The state-of-the-art facility, built to stringent Passivhaus environmental standards, includes a 25-metre swimming pool with a movable floor, enabling it to be split into two sections at varying depths. The centre also features sports halls, a fitness suite, dance studio, changing facilities, offices, and a PE classroom for Blairgowrie High School pupils.
Perth and Kinross Council leader, Councillor Grant Laing, hailed the opening as “a really important day for the people of Blairgowrie and across Eastern Perthshire.”
He said: “Plans for the centre were first put forward years ago but the green light was only given in 2022 when the Council agreed to fund this £36 million project. It has been a long road to get to this point, but I am sure this will be a much-loved and well-used facility and would urge everyone to come along to the open day tomorrow to see exactly what it offers.”
To celebrate the launch, Live Active Leisure is hosting a special opening weekend from 29–31 August, offering £1 swim and gym sessions, free sports hall activities, and a brand-new Aqua Run challenge. Chairman Ian Collins said: “This weekend is the perfect opportunity to showcase this fantastic venue and its facilities, and we look forward to welcoming the whole community through our doors.”
The centre was designed by architects Holmes Miller and delivered by BAM, with sustainability a key focus throughout. BAM’s Scotland Regional Director, Jim Ward, described the project as setting “a new benchmark for leisure facilities in the UK,” highlighting the energy-saving benefits of applying Passivhaus principles to one of the most energy-intensive building types.
Gary Bushnell, Chief Executive of hub East Central Scotland, added: “We are proud to have worked with Perth and Kinross Council to deliver the new Blairgowrie Recreation Centre. It provides high-quality facilities built to rigorous Passivhaus environmental standards that will benefit the local community for generations to come.”
