RAAC: Government sets 2029 deadline. What schools need to do now

The Government has committed to remove reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete from every affected school and college in England by 2029. The Department for Education says 237 schools and colleges were confirmed with RAAC. 62 have already had RAAC permanently removed, 123 will be fully rebuilt through the School Rebuilding Programme, while 108 are receiving targeted grants to remove RAAC through their local authority or trust.

Key facts in one place

• 237 settings confirmed with RAAC in England.
• 62 settings already cleared.
• 123 settings in the School Rebuilding Programme.
• 108 settings on grants for removal, completion by 2029.
• All affected sites are open for full-time face-to-face teaching.

What the 2029 deadline really means

Clear timeline for permanent removal or rebuild across the entire affected estate. Expect overlapping surveys, enabling works and staged construction.

Funding routes split between the School Rebuilding Programme and targeted grants, with delivery via responsible bodies. That changes who commissions what, and when.

Capacity crunch is likely. Rebuild and removal schemes will compete for surveyors, designers and contractors at the same time as broader education capital programmes scale up.

Where schools and trusts lose time

• Incomplete utility records that stall design and dig permits.
• Outdated floor plans and elevations that don’t reflect temporary works or historic alterations.
• Missed constraints around levels, drainage and access for phasing.

How Survey Solutions helps you hit 2029 without drama

• Topographic and utility mapping that are PAS 128 compliant to de-risk enabling works and excavations
• Measured building and façade surveys for accurate plans, sections and elevations that design teams can trust
• Laser scanning and BIM models to co-ordinate temporary accommodation, phasing and permanent works
• RAAC identification support within measured surveys where needed, plus structural and environmental monitoring during works
• Drone surveys for faster coverage of large sites with less disruption to teaching

Practical next steps for estates leaders

• Confirm which route applies to each site: SRP rebuild or grant-funded removal.
• Lock your survey scope early. Prioritise utilities, measured building, topographic surveys and access constraints.
• Build a realistic phasing plan that protects term time and exams.
• Commission monitoring where works interface with occupied buildings.
• Standardise deliverables: CAD plus BIM-ready models across your programme for consistency.

If you are scheduling RAAC removal or a rebuild, our national team can mobilise quickly and work around live school operations. Get a scope and start date within days.