Cost model: Britain's schools | Features

Capital expenditure allocations in the 2000 comprehensive spending review
Year	£m
2000/1	2232
2001/2	2512
2002/3	3012
2003/4	3812

Regional variation
Inner London	1.08
Outer London	1.02
South West	0.95
East Midlands	0.92
West Midlands	0.93
East Anglia	0.93
Yorkshire & Humberside	0.88
North West	0.92
North	0.91
Scotland	0.89
Wales	0.87
Northern Ireland	0.79

Summary costs of secondary schools and colleges
	Average (£/m2 gifa)	Low range (£/m2 gifa)	High range (£/m2 gifa)
Classroom blocks	875	605	1100
Laboratories	900	745	1150
Craft, design and technology	920	720	1130
Music	1140	750	1570
Sixth-form/tertiary	930	690	1185
All secondary schools and colleges	915	650	1160

School science block cost breakdown
	element cost (£)	cost/m2 gfa (£)	% of total cost
Substructure	112,500	77.05	8.16
Reinforced insitu concrete ground beams and suspended slab; vapour barrier; hardcore, excavation and disposal 520 m2 @ 140
CFA piling; average 15m deep; testing; trimming pile tops 65 @ 610
Frame	103,900	71.16	7.54
Structural steel frame; standard and cellular beam sections; based on allowance of 50kg/m2; erection 74 @ 1100
Intumescent paint, one-hour fire resistance 1500 m2 @ 15
Upper floors	41,400	28.36	3.00
Composite construction; 140 thick reinforced concrete on metal deck; power floating 940 m2 @ 44
Roof	66,400	45.48	4.82
Galvanized steel roofing; low pitch; vapour barrier, insulation, secret fixings, plastisol coating; including allowances for edges, eaves and gutters; 2 access hatches 540 m2 @ 96
Single layer PVCu roofing; membrane; insulation; metal deck; boundary work and gutters 80 m2 @ 110
Mansafe system Item @ 5800
Stairs	22,700	15.55	1.65
Contractor designed precast concrete stairs and
4 @ 2800
Balustrades; 1.1m average high; galvanized steel half landings; 3.4m rise
balustrade and handrail 43 m @ 165
Handrails; galvanized steel 40 m @ 110
External walls	89,200	61.10	6.47
Cavity wall construction; facing brick; fair face blockwork; dpcs; insulation; allowance for sills and lintels 750 m2 @ 90
Metal cladding; colour-coated profiled sheet, insulation and liner panel, cladding rails and blockwork 65 m2 @ 180
Allowance for abutments, edge details and copings Item @ 10,000
Windows and external doors	94,300	64.59	6.84
Proprietary aluminium framed, double-glazed windows; powder-coated finish 95 m2 @ 300
Curtain walling; aluminium framed stick system with sealed double-glazed units 160 m2 @ 320
Extra for sloping curtain walling Item @ 3000
Entrance door; aluminium framed glazed door; automatic operation 1 @ 5000
External doors; aluminium framed; polyester-coated; to match windows 4 @ 1650
Internal walls and partitions	31,900	21.85	2.31
Partitions; 100 solid/hollow facing blockwork (average rate) 1225 m2 @ 25
Cubicle partitions; laminated plastics 3 @ 440
Internal doors	33,600	23.01	2.44
Flush doors; solid core; paint grade; vision panels; softwood frame; 30/30 fire resistance; stainless steel door furniture; decorations 56 @ 500
Extra for; glazed side panels 17 @ 330
Wall finishes	20,600	14.11	1.49
Dry lining; column encasement Item @ 3000
Ceramic tiles; full height in WCs, allowance in laboratories 215 m2 @ 40
Painting blockwork; 1 mist, 3 full coats emulsion paint 3000 m2 @ 3
Floor finishes	52,600	36.03	3.82
Carpet; to general areas; levelling screed 600 m2 @ 22
Sheet flooring; linoleum to corridors 160 m2 @ 22
Sheet flooring; high quality vinyl sheet 560 m2 @ 35
Rubber flooring; to stairwells; nosings 140 m2 @ 44
Softwood skirting 900 m @ 9
Allowance for entrance barrier matting Item @ 2000
Ceiling finishes	23,500	16.10	1.71
Suspended ceilings; resin bonded glasswool tile; exposed grid 950 m2 @ 22
Painting to soffits; generally 510 m2 @ 5
Furniture and fittings	95,000	65.07	6.89
Fixed furniture and equipment; whiteboards and pinboards; worktops in steel, laminate and acrylic; specialist workstations; racking and storage; fume cupboard; laboratory sinks and accessories; gas outlets and socket outlets Item @ 90,000
Window boards Item @ 3000
Statutory and orientation signage Item @ 2000
Sanitary fittings	13,400	9.18	0.97
WCs, urinals, washhand basins, fittings; cleaners’ sinks; complete (average rate) 7 @ 280
Extra for, fittings for disabled WCs 2 @ 400
Allowance for access panels Item @ 3000
Hand dryers Item @ 2000
Disposal installations	14,600	10.00	1.06
Waste, soil and vent installation; PVCu pipework and fittings 1460 m2 @ 10
Water installations	32,100	21.99	2.33
Mains water; cold water storage and distribution, hot water calorifier, pumps and distribution pipework; including distribution to laboratories 1460 m2 @ 22
Space heating and air treatment	120,800	82.74	8.77
Heating installation; gas supply, heat source; LPHW distribution; radiators, mild steel pipework 1460 m2 @ 30
Localised comfort cooling; heat pump, installation to computer suite Item @ 12,000
Supply and extract installation to laboratories and classrooms Item @ 54,000
Toilet extract installation Item @ 6000
Dust extract installation Item @ 5000
Electrical installations	103,700	71.03	7.53
Mains and sub-mains installation 1460 m2 @ 16
Small power installation 1460 m2 @ 18
Lighting and general luminaires; emergency lighting 1460 m2 @ 35
Power supply installation to mechanical equipment Item @ 3000
Gas installation	9000	6.16	0.65
Laboratory gas supply; terminals included in fixed furniture and fittings (120 points) Item @ 9000
Lift installation	30,000	20.55	2.18
4 person electro-hydraulic lift serving 3 floors; 0.4 m/s Item @ 30,000
Protective installations	1700	1.16	0.12
Lightning protection; earthing and bonding Item @ 1700
Communications installation	47,800	32.74	3.47
Fire alarm installation; smoke detectors; call points 1640 m2 @ 12
Disabled alarm Item @ 600
Telephone and data wireways; Cat 5E data wiring Item @ 12,500
Security installation; intruder detection, CCTV, etc Item @ 15,000
Special installations	23,300	15.96	1.69
Building management system 1640 m2 @ 12
Compressed air installation (20 points) Item @ 3600
Builder's work in connection	11,900	8.15	0.86
Forming holes, chases, etc Allow 3% Item @ 11,900
Preliminaries and contingencies	182,100	124.73	13.22
Testing and commissioning of services; record drawings Item @ 2500
Management costs, site establishment and site supervision
Allow 10% Item @ 119,600
Contingency sum Allow 5% Item @ 60,000
Total construction cost – building only	1,378,000	943.85	100

School craft, design and technology block
	element cost (£)	cost/m2 gfa (£)	% of total cost
Substructure	65,700	65.05	6.04
Reinforced insitu concrete foundations and ground slab, including service trench; vapour barrier; hardcore, excavation and disposal 885 m2 @ 62
Precast concrete flooring; beam and block decking; over service trench; 150 thick 40 m2 @21
Masonry work below dpc; blockwork and facing brickwork Item @ 10,000
Frame	63,100	62.48	5.80
Structural steel frame; standard sections; based on allowance of 30 kg/m2; erection 28 t @1100
Intumescent paint, one-hour fire resistance 600 m2 @ 15
Glulam beams; curved rafters; purlins; finishes (average rate) 375 m @ 62
Upper floors	6000	5.94	0.55
Mezzanine deck; precast, prestressed concrete floor units; 150 thick 125 m2 @ 48
Roof	146,100	144.65	13.43
Standing seam aluminium roofing; structural deck, vapour barrier, insulation, roof sheet; including boundary work and gutters; paint finish to soffit 1090 m2 @ 114
Single-layer PVCu roofing; membrane; insulation; plywood; boundary work and rainwater outlets 110 m2 @ 100
Rooflights; sunpipe tubing; 800 long 7 @ 830
Mansafe system Item @ 5000
Stairs	8500	8.42	0.78
Steel framed stair with hardwood treads and landings; 3.3 m rise in three flights Item @ 2500
Balustrades; 1.1 m average high ; galvanized steel balustrade and handrail 50 m @ 120
External walls	69,000	68.32	6.35
Cavity wall construction forming plinth; facing brickwork Item @ 1000
Cavity wall construction; two leaves blockwork, insulation, sand cement render 35 m2 @ 90
Timber cladding; ship-lapped western red cedar; breather membrane, battens, cladding rails, insulation, blockwork backing wall; including boundary work 360 m2 @ 180
Windows and external doors	109,200	108.12	10.04
Proprietary aluminium framed, double-glazed windows, doors and solid aluminium faced panels; powder-coated finish 325 m2 @ 300
Extra for operating gear to clerestory windows Item @ 3000
External doors; Cedar board finished flush doors to match cladding; ironmongery 8 @ 1090
Internal walls and partitions	37,500	37.13	3.45
Partitions; 100/140 blockwork (average rate) 630 m2 @ 25
Glazed screens; powder-coated aluminium frames; double-glazed units; radiused head 52 m2 @ 270
Allowance for small areas of panelling, partitions and trims generally Item @ 6500
Cubicle partitions; laminated plastics 3 @ 400
Internal doors	14,600	14.46	1.34
Flush doors; laminate faced solid core; vision panels; softwood frame; 30/30 fire resistance; stainless steel door furniture; decorations 28 @ 500
Extra for; glazed side panels 6 @ 100
Wall finishes	21,300	21.09	1.96
Dry lining; column encasement Item @ 1000
2 coat plasterwork 1450 m2 @ 10
Ceramic tiles; full height in WCs, allowance in laboratories 20 m2 @ 40
Painting blockwork; 1 mist, 3 full coats emulsion paint 1650 m2 @ 3
Floor finishes	42,800	42.38	3.94
Allowance for access floor to service trench Item @ 3000
Floor substrate for underfloor heating; 70 thick sand cement screed, insulation and fabric reinforcement 805 m2 @ 10
Sand cement screed to service trench 80 m2 @ 17
Ceramic tiling; skirting 110 m2 @ 40
Vinyl sheet; skirting 525 m2 @ 29
Carpet; painted softwood skirting 345 m2 @ 24
Allowance for entrance mats Item @ 2500
Ceiling finishes	8300	8.22	0.76
Plasterboard ceiling; skim coat and emulsion 240 m2 @ 18
Soffit linings to clerestory windows Item @ 4000
Furniture and fittings	91,000	90.10	8.37
Fixed furniture and equipment; whiteboards and pinboards; worktops in laminate-faced MDF and Iroko; cupboards, racking and shelving Item @ 83,000
Window boards Item @ 6000
Statutory and orientation signage Item @ 2000
Sanitary fittings	18,100	17.92	1.66
WCs, urinals, washhand basins, fittings; cleaners' sinks; complete (average rate) 14@250
Stainless steel sinks in teaching areas 15@460
Extra for, fittings for disabled WCs 1@400
Allowance for pre-plumbed panel lining system Item@7300
Disposal installations	20,200	20.00	1.86
Waste, soil and vent installation; PVCu pipework and fittings 1010 m2 @ 20
Water installations	22,200	21.98	2.04
Mains water; cold water storage and distribution, hot water calorifier, pumps and distribution pipework; including distribution to laboratories 1010 m2 @ 22
Space heating and air treatment	53,900	53.37	4.96
Heating installation; gas supply, heat source; LPHW distribution, mild steel pipework, connections to underfloor heating system 1010 m2 @ 23
Extra for; underfloor heating distribution 755 m2 @ 30
Extract installation generally Item @ 8000
Electrical installations	88,600	87.72	8.15
Mains and sub-mains installation 1010 m2 @ 14
Small power installation 1010 m2 @ 30
Lighting and general luminaires; emergency lighting 1010 m2 @ 35
Power supply installation to workshop equipment Item @ 7300
Power supply installation to mechanical equipment Item @ 1500
Gas installation	2000	1.98	0.19
Teaching equipment gas supply Item @ 2000
Protective installations	3,700	3.66	0.34
Lightning protection; earthing and bonding Item@3700
Communications installation	31,100	30.79	2.86
Fire alarm installation; smoke detectors; call points 1010m2 @ 12
Class change bell Item @ 1000
Telephone and data wireways; internal telephone system Item @ 11,000
Security installation; intruder detection, CCTV etc Item @ 7000
Special installations	13,100	12.97	1.20
Building management system 1010 m2 @ 8
Oxyacetylene installation Item @ 5000
Builder's work in connection	7600	7.52	0.70
Forming holes, chases, etc Allow 3% Item @ 7600
Preliminaries and contingencies	143,900	142.48	13.23
Testing and commissioning of services; record drawings Item @ 2500
Management costs, site establishment and site supervision Allow 10% Item @ 94,400
Contingency sum Allow 5% Item @ 47,000
Total construction cost – building only	1,087,500	1076.75	100