Gate & Bar director Nathan Hughes gives his insight into the DfE's School Rebuilding Programme
The programme was long anticipated to replace the PSBP (Priority Schools Building Programme) often referred to as PSBP3. However since the announcement of the first 50 SRP projects some key changes have come to light.
I have previously had success with Locally delivered PSBP projects, where I work directly with the trust to ensure they get exactly what is required from their new build to suit their teaching and estates approach. However, local delivery has been excluded from the School Rebuilding Programme meaning trusts and schools get less input into the project at an early scoping stage. Many of the decision on if a school will be rebuilt and how happen behind closed doors at the DfE.
A number of school trusts have recently been notified that one or more of their schools is being considered for SRP, and asked to fill in an online form. This form on the face of it looks harmless, with very little input needed, however the information provided in this could be the difference between being approved for a rebuild or not. My top tips are;
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Study the existing School Condition Data Collection (CDC) report in full with professional help where appropriate. You need to understand why this school has been selected and identify any significant errors in the CDC.
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The application askes for an overview of change since the CDC report, be mindful that applications with £500,000 or more of condition based expenditure since the last CDC are unlikely to be funded, also identify if any works were temporary repairs.
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You will be asked to provide an over view of condition related issues. Make sure this aligns with the CDC data, provide further details of significant condition items missed in CDC but identified in your independent condition report. Consider factors excluded from CDC such as asbestos and below ground drainage that cause ongoing issues.
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Evidence, you can upload files as evidence. Along side title information the 2 key documents for me are a robust independent condition survey (not CDC) and a thorough Asbestos Survey.
Whilst this early stage seems simple I would recommend a quick review by an estates professional to ensure any significant factors or errors in the CDC are accounted for. Anyone who has worked with the CDC data will know that it cannot be relied upon however this will be the basis of the DfE decision unless you can provide a more robust assessment of the condition.
