Guidance published on £1bn of fast-tracked BSF deals

Government guidance aimed at fast-tracking more than £1bn Building Schools for the Future schemes by up to five years has been launched this week.

The guidance spells out how local authorities in Waves 7 to 15 can bring forward up to five schemes each. It sets out the steps needed to prepare schemes for an early launch.

Announcing the guidance at the Partnerships for Schools annual conference in London, schools minister Jim Knight told delegates the guidance would give local authorities greater flexibility to prioritise projects according to local need.

The guidance follows a pilot scheme earlier this year which saw eight schemes worth more than £600m brought forward from Waves 7-9. It is based on the results of widespread consultation with councils and the BSF industry.

Under the new guidance, all schemes on Waves 7 to 15 will be eligible to jump the queue so long as they meet key criteria spelt out in the guidance. This includes a readiness to launch and a commitment to using the Local Education Partnership model. In addition all council chief executives must promise to support revenue funding and to guarantee their BSF teams will have their own project directors and teams of advisors on board.

The fast track initiative is part of wider moves to speed up the delivery of the BSF programme and allow greater flexibility in how and when schemes are delivered.

Of 150 local authorities on the BSF programme, 70 schemes are still in the pipeline.