LGA revises estimate of money spent on cancelled BSF projects to £200m+

The Local Government Association has revised significantly upwards the estimated amount spent by local authorities on preparatory work for cancelled Building Schools for the Future projects.

The LGA now says that more than £203 million has been spent by 75 councils on the necessary paperwork. According to the association, the regional break down for the costs is as follows:

• East Midlands: £19.3m
• East England: £13m
• London: £54.4m
• North East: £13m
• North West: £22.1m
• South East: £11.4m
• South West: £11.2m
• West Midlands: £41.2m
• Yorkshire and Humber: £17.6m

The full amount is likely to be higher still as a total of 88 councils were affected by the government's announcement.

The LGA has again urged the government to give schools which have had programmes scrapped a clear explanation of why their project was no longer considered viable, and to provide guidance on when they might next attract investment.

Cllr Shireen Ritchie, Chair of the Children and Young People’s Board at the LGA, added: “Councils cannot now send good money after bad, so any future plans for school rebuilding should use preparatory work which has been done already as far as is practical.”

The revised LGA figures come after it emerged that Nottingham City Council is considering legal action over cancelled projects.