Investing in the Future: Perth and Kinross Leads the Way in Sustainable Infrastructure
Perth and Kinross is fast establishing itself as a leader in sustainable infrastructure, with two landmark projects - the £80 million Perth High School and the £36 million Blairgowrie Recreation Centre - setting new benchmarks for quality, efficiency, and long-term community benefit.
Both developments have been delivered to Passivhaus environmental standards, a gold standard in energy efficiency that drastically reduces operating costs while ensuring cutting-edge facilities for education, leisure, and wellbeing. Together, these projects represent more than £110 million of public sector investment, underlining the Council’s long-term strategy to build resilient, sustainable communities.
Education fit for the 21st Century
The new Perth High School, which opened for the new term in August 2025, provides a state-of-the-art learning environment for 1,600 pupils and 140 staff. Constructed by Robertson Construction Tayside, the school not only delivers modern teaching spaces but also strengthens the local economy, thanks to community wealth-building initiatives such as apprenticeships, local supply chain engagement, and support for community programmes.
Councillor John Rebbeck, Convener of Learning and Families, described the school as “a truly 21st Century Learning Environment,” noting that it joins Riverside Primary School and Blairgowrie Recreation Centre as part of a new generation of Passivhaus public buildings in the region.
A benchmark for leisure and wellbeing
In Blairgowrie, residents now have access to one of the UK’s most advanced leisure facilities. The £36 million recreation centre, delivered by BAM, combines a 25m pool with movable flooring, a sports hall, fitness suite, dance studio, and dedicated teaching spaces.
It has already been hailed as “a new benchmark for leisure facilities in the UK” by BAM’s Regional Director, Jim Ward, for applying Passivhaus standards to one of the most energy-intensive building types.
For local communities, the centre offers not only world-class facilities but also a clear signal of confidence in the region’s growth and long-term prosperity.
Sustainable investment, long-term returns
What links both projects is a clear investment philosophy: infrastructure should serve people today while reducing costs and environmental impacts tomorrow. By embracing Passivhaus design, Perth and Kinross Council is cutting energy demand, improving resilience to future price shocks, and creating healthier, more comfortable spaces for residents.
These investments also stimulate the local economy, supporting construction jobs, apprenticeships, and community wealth building during development, while delivering facilities that attract families, businesses, and talent to the region.
Speaking on these infrastructure investments, Councillor Grant Laing, Perth and Kinross Council Leader, commented, “With over £110 million invested in just these two projects Perth and Kinross is showing how strategic public investment in sustainable infrastructure can deliver not just modern facilities, but long-term economic, social, and environmental dividends.
“These projects are about more than bricks and mortar: they are about state-of-the-art facilities that will be much-loved and well-used for generations.”
