Blairgowrie Recreation Centre

Blairgowrie Recreation Centre

Client: Perth & Kinross Council

Status: Completed 2024

Value: £36m

Type: New-build Leisure Centre

Location: Blairgowrie, Perth & Kinross

Scotland’s First Passivhaus Pool & Leisure Centre

Holmes Miller were commissioned by Perth & Kinross Council for the design and delivery of the new Blairgowrie Recreation Centre – a flagship community and education facility serving both Blairgowrie High School and the wider Perthshire region. The centre provides a 6-lane, 25 m competition pool, four-court sports hall, two-court gymnasium, fitness suite, dance studio, PE classroom, and associated changing facilities.

At the heart of the project is a commitment to people – promoting health, wellbeing, and inclusivity. The centre supports the physical education curriculum while providing the wider community with a welcoming and flexible environment for recreation and connection. Designed to Sport England / Sport Scotland standards, the facility offers accessible, inclusive sporting spaces for users of all ages and abilities. Two Changing Places toilets are provided on each level of the building, ensuring dignity and comfort for all visitors, and the design prioritises clear wayfinding, natural light, and adaptable spaces that nurture vitality and wellbeing.

Sustainability is central to the project, which is being delivered to full Passivhaus certification – the first leisure centre in Scotland to achieve this. The design minimises operational and embodied carbon through a cross-laminated timber (CLT) superstructure, high-performance thermal envelope, and efficient building systems. The building is projected to achieve up to 80% reduction in operational energy consumption compared to a typical leisure centre, delivering a resilient, low-carbon facility that sets a new benchmark for sustainable public buildings in Scotland.

The new centre is a key community asset for Blairgowrie, strengthening connections between the school, town, and surrounding areas. Replacing the outdated facility, it creates a vibrant local hub for learning, play, and wellbeing. The scheme’s landscape design – including a new all-weather hockey pitch and improved public realm – enhances the wider setting, while the building’s materiality and scale respond sensitively to its context. The result is a civic place that reflects local identity and supports community life.

Building Performance: Passivhaus Classic

U-Values: Enhanced (Wall 0.15 W/m2.K, Roof 0.1-0.15 W/m2.K, Ground 0.1 W/m2.K)

Airtightness: 0.345 h-1 @ 50 Pa (Target)

Heating: ASHP & MVHR

Form Factor: 1.4