Education secretary Michael Gove has confirmed that the government is axing hundreds of school building projects to help save money.
He said 705 schools will no longer be rebuilt or refurbished through the Building Schools (BSF) for the Future programme. Of these, 180 are new-build, while 319 are refurbishment projects.
But 706 BSF schemes which have reached financial closure will go ahead, of which 386 are new-build and 262 refurbishments.
Some 123 academy projects which have not yet reached financial closure will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
So far, 180 schools have been rebuilt or refurbished since BSF started in 2004. Building is due to start in a further 231 schools.
Furthermore, the government is launching a comprehensive review of all capital investment in schools, early years, colleges and sixth forms, which guide future spending decisions between 2011-2015.
For reaction from the joinery and merchant trade see this week’s issue of TTJ.
