A pioneering community sports dome survived closure after catastrophic flooding and is now the subject of a funded reuse direction rather than demolition.
Quick facts
- Date
- Built 1966–1968; closed after flooding in 2023; reuse investment approved in 2025
- Architect / designer
- John Beattie Davidson of Perth Town Council Architects’ Office
- Type
- Circular community sports arena beneath a large laminated-timber dome
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB52628)
- OS grid reference
- NO 11515 24337
Architecture and continuing use
A 67-metre circular sports hall sits beneath a 17-metre-high laminated-timber dome, ringed by rendered offices and changing rooms. The great clear-span roof defines the building more strongly than its low outer elevations.
Its story
Perth opened Bell’s in 1968 as an early purpose-built community sports centre. Flooding in October 2023 led to service withdrawal in 2024; the council later approved investment toward an unheated sports-pitch and events use.
Why it is included
The arena records the post-war growth of municipal recreation and presents a current case study in flood risk, modern-building designation and pragmatic reuse.
What to notice
- The shallow profile and radial structure of the timber dome.
- The low ring of ancillary accommodation around the arena.
- How the dome sits at the edge of the North Inch beside the River Tay floodplain.
Reading the surroundings
The former centre is closed. Do not enter the site or rely on obsolete leisure listings; follow council and Live Active updates for any future reopening or consultation.
Timeline
- Built 1966–1968 Perth opened Bell’s in 1968 as an early purpose-built community sports centre.
- Present Closed former sports centre awaiting council-led conversion to a sports-pitch and events space.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The £10 million direction supports conversion, but final design, programme and public opening remain subject to delivery decisions.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Bell’s Sports Centre Arena, LB52628 — Designation category, mapped location, construction phases, fabric, authorship and architectural interest.
- Live Active Leisure: Perth city leisure provision — Closure context, council reuse direction, public consultation and proposed multi-use concept for Bell’s.
- Live Active Leisure: PH2O gets the go-ahead — Current confirmation of council investment for a sports-pitch and events-space proposal at Bell’s.
Location
OS grid reference NO 11515 24337 · Location confidence: High: the statutory designation supplies a mapped National Grid Reference and a current official operator, responsible public body or institutional source confirms the Place relationship and present identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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