More than 100 schools have been forced to close in England due to concerns about crumbling concrete, and experts say the problem could spread to other public buildings such as hospitals and courts.
England's crumbling buildings crisis could spread beyond schools to hospitals and courts-Image Source: The Guardian
The concrete in question is reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac), which was commonly used in panel-form in public building construction from the 1950s to mid-1990s. It is estimated to have a lifespan of 30 years, and many structures have now passed that age.
The Labour MP Meg Hillier has called for an urgent audit of the government’s handling of the Raac crisis, saying it is “the tip of the iceberg” of maintenance issues within the school estate.
She said the costs of working around the problems – using props to support existing structures and conducting surveys on affected areas – are “eye-watering and wasteful”.
Ministers have so far refused to publish the names of the affected schools or 34 other public buildings identified as containing Raac.
They include 24 hospitals, seven court buildings and four Department for Work and Pensions facilities.
The DfE has been preparing contingency plans for schools since 2021, but its U-turn on Friday – which means all buildings or areas with Raac must close – follows instances where the material collapsed despite it being considered low risk.
The DfE has received widespread criticism over the timing of its announcement, days before the start of a new academic year.
Sarah Skinner, the chief executive of Penrose Learning Trust, which has three affected schools, said the notification on Thursday seemed “very late in the day”.
“That’s what’s created the problem, to now be trying to find temporary accommodation, temporary toilets, potential marquees on fields, free school meals if our kitchens are out of action,” she said.
Roger Gough, the Tory leader of Kent county council, said there could be “all sorts of costs that arise” for local authorities and schools due to closures and he urged the government to provide “clarity” on what would be funded.
The government has said it will cover the costs of temporary building hire and capital costs, but schools and councils may still have to pay for other expenses, such as furniture and IT equipment.
The Raac crisis is a major headache for the government, and it is unclear how it will be resolved. The cost of repairs is likely to be significant, and the disruption to schools and other public services will be widespread.
The government needs to come up with a clear plan to address the Raac crisis, and it needs to do so quickly. The longer the problem is left unresolved, the more expensive and disruptive it will become.
