Whole-school refurbishment cost

Whole-school refurbishment as an alternative to rebuild, with the abnormal cost drivers (asbestos, RAAC, M&E end-of-life) that often dominate the figure.

When refurb beats rebuild

On a 30-year whole-life basis, refurb typically wins where condition grade is B or better, where the structure is sound (no RAAC, no concrete-cancer), where the M&E plant has 10+ years of life left, and where the building fabric can meet Spec21 with a fabric-first uplift[Spec21]. NAO Jan 2025[NAO] recommends evidencing the choice in the business case.

Abnormals that flip the case

Asbestos, RAAC[RAAC], contaminated land, structural failures or services backbone replacement can each add 15-40% to the refurb headline. Once two of these compound, rebuild often becomes cheaper on whole-life cost.

Funding routes

Whole-school refurb is funded through CIF[CIF] condition packages and School Condition Allocations (SCA). Where condition is too far gone, SRP[SRP] rebuild is the alternative.

See refurb vs rebuild.