Perth and Kinross councillors have been told works to remove RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) and asbestos from Bell's Sports Centre will be completed by May 2027. The local authority is also engaging with community groups about how the Perth venue will operate in the future, as part of the £10 million project.
Background to the closure
In October 2023, Bell's Sports Centre suffered £2 million of flood damage after several Perth floodgates were left open during heavy rainfall. This ultimately resulted in Live Active Leisure withdrawing its services from the centre in August 2024.
In June 2025, councillors voted for Bell's to be used as "an unheated, covered sports pitch/events space". The iconic domed venue, which sits on the edge of Perth's North Inch, had hosted local, national and international sports events since it opened in 1968.
Essential works under way
In April 2026, Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) began "essential works" at Bell's Sports Centre to support future use of the building. Last week, when the full council met on Wednesday, October 28, Cllr Hugh Anderson asked when Bell's would reopen as a venue.
The Conservative councillor asked: "How long have we to wait for it to reopen for people to use that facility?"
Deputy chief executive Clare Mailer said: "Council will recall that there was a direction of council in the first phase of the work was removal of RAAC and indeed asbestos. That work is progressing at the moment, due to complete early next year.
"The other action, in terms of the direction of council, was to engage with local community groups in terms of the future operation of Bell's. I can advise council that work is under way and there has been a fair amount of engagement, which is continuing at the moment so that I hope we would be in a position to provide a report to council in due course."
Future feasibility and community impact
PKC's strategic lead for Property Services John Beveridge added: "The first phase for Bell's is May 2027 so we'll have RAAC and asbestos removed at that point. At the same time, concurrently we're working through the feasibility of what it will look like in future."
Earlier this year, Perth and Kinross Community Sports Network's chairman David Munro said sport had been "nomadic" in Perth and Kinross since the closure of Bell's as a venue. He said some sports clubs were "floating about from place to place" and added: "Sports cannot develop as they cannot get a space. They would love to have Bell's reopened as a venue."
