Blair centre’ s opening date pushed back again

The opening date for the new Blairgowrie Recreation Centre looks set to be delayed – again. Market volatility has delayed the process of getting a contract signed off with a contractor.

Perth and Kinross Council’s property subcommittee was given an update at a meeting on Monday June 13.

Last September councillors were told the new centre was on track to open in November 2023.

The new – still to be confirmed – date for the centre to be operational and open to pupils and members of the public is now looking like summer 2024.

The £26.7 million project has been beset by delays, with the war in Ukraine now being said to have played a part in delaying progress. Previously Brexit, the pandemic, and finding a drainage solution for the larger building all impeded progress.

Perth and Kinross Council’s head of business and resources, Greg Boland, told the committee the plans are expected to go before councillors for approval this August.

He said: “We had delays in the planning process but that’s now anticipated to go to the planning and placemaking committee in August.

“We anticipate to be on site later this calendar year but we are facing challenges with the marketplace and reaching financial close (signing of the contract).”

Mr Boland’s report told the committee reaching a financial close was “very challenging” due to current market volatility.

His report said: “The impact of Brexit, Covid, the construction supply capacity, and the war in Ukraine is affecting costs and tender returns.”

Councillors were told this would result in yet another revised operational date for the centre.

Liberal Democrat Perth City Centre councillor Peter Barrett asked when that might be.

PKC’s head of property services, Stephen Crawford, said: “At the moment getting priced tenders in for the market is very difficult.

“Steel prices have gone up many times. Even getting a price for a brick is difficult because a lot of the cost in bricks is in firing them and the gas price is so high if people are pricing things for six months it’s very difficult.

“There is a lot of commercial volatility. A lot of stuff came from Ukraine and that’s the kind of stuff that’s causing issues.”

He added: “I can’t give you an exact answer but what I can say is we are working with contractors, consultants and looking at where potential trip hazards are for these types of projects.

“I think we’re really looking at summer 2024 before getting operation of the facility and I know that’s a lot later than originally planned.”

Blairgowrie and Glens SNP councillor Tom McEwan asked if there was a risk agreeing a contract would exceed the budget agreed by Perth and Kinross Council.

Mr Boland said they were “hopeful” it would stay within the current budget, but said this could not be confirmed until financial close.

Afterwards, Mr McEwan told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The new Blairgowrie Recreation Centre is still with planning officers awaiting approval but I am growing concerned that this report to the property sub-committee highlights how difficult it has been to finalise a final cost with a builder.

“I hope the delays during the past five years with the Tory council administration don’t result in the new SNP administration needing to find yet more money for this essential capital project.”