sportscotland has published a comprehensive national assessment evaluating the current state and future needs of the public sporting infrastructure. Commissioned at the request of the Scottish Government and carried out by consultants Mott MacDonald, the sportscotland Estate Review offers a detailed analysis of the condition, age, and long-term investment required to maintain Scotland’s leisure estate over the next 25 years.

See the full report

The State of Scotland’s Leisure Estate

Local facilities play a critical role in community health and wellbeing. From community leisure centres and school halls to outdoor pitches and swimming pools, these venues provide essential spaces for people to stay active.

The review covers nearly 11,000 individual facilities across almost 5,000 locations. However, the data highlights significant challenges facing the public sector:

  • Aging Infrastructure: The average public sports facility in Scotland is approximately 45 years old.

  • Design Life Exceeded: Nearly 40% of facilities have already passed their intended design life, with that number expected to reach 45% over the next decade.

  • Current Facility Condition: Roughly 12% of indoor venues and 16% of outdoor facilities are currently classed as being in poor or bad condition.

In addition to physical aging, leisure trust operators and local authorities face rising operational expenses, including energy, staffing, and maintenance costs, while working to meet Net Zero carbon targets and accessibility mandates.

Key Findings of the sportscotland Review

The report estimates that maintaining, modernising, and adapting Scotland’s sports facilities will require £15.5 billion in investment over the next 25 years.

This total reflects the cumulative long-term cost required across all public sector partners, rather than a single immediate request for funding. The review outlines three core priorities for future planning:

  1. Decarbonisation and Net Zero: Upgrading older infrastructure to cut energy consumption and lower carbon emissions.

  2. Accessibility and Inclusion: Modernising spaces so that facilities are accessible to everyone, regardless of background or physical ability.

  3. Optimising Existing Assets: Priority is given to maximizing the use of current assets, improving occupancy data, and fostering partnerships across local authorities, health boards, and education providers rather than constructing new venues.

Next Steps for Local and National Partners

Securing a sustainable future for local sports facilities requires ongoing collaboration between national governing bodies, local councils, health services, and leisure trusts.

To explore the findings in detail, access the full dataset, executive summary, and technical documents via the official sportscotland Estate Review portal.