RAAC remediation cost

Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete in 237 confirmed UK schools, with the 2029 deadline for permanent solutions and the funding sitting behind it.

Interim vs permanent remediation cost

Interim mitigation includes propping, scaffolding, temporary classrooms (decant), additional safety inspections and protective screens. These typically run £80-220k per affected block depending on size, access and how long mitigation must remain in place[RAAC]. Permanent solutions are either a like-for-like roof replacement or a full block rebuild.

The 2029 deadline

DfE expects RAAC to be permanently mitigated by 2029. The Department has been moving affected schools into the School Rebuilding Programme[SRP] rather than funding standalone RAAC replacement, on the basis that whole-school rebuild produces a building that meets Spec21[Spec21] and removes other condition risk in one go.

When to combine remediation with rebuild

Where the RAAC block forms a large share of GIFA, the rest of the building is in condition grade C or worse, and life-cycle modelling shows rebuild beating repair on 30-year cost, the case for rebuild is strong. NAO Jan 2025[NAO] framed the trade-off.

See abnormals and refurb vs rebuild.