RAAC Survey Update: What’s Changed – and How We Can Help

RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) became a major news story in the UK in late August 2023, particularly concerning its presence in schools, just before the start of the autumn term, but also impacted hospitals, courts, universities and many other buildings across the UK.

Since then, there’s been steady progress, but many challenges remain. Here’s where things stand—and why Survey Solutions remains central to managing this structural risk.

Current RAAC Landscape (as of June 2025)

• A government paper in early 2025 reported that approximately 234 schools and colleges in England still contained confirmed RAAC – around 1% of the school estate – with half of these needing extensive rebuilding or refurbishment
• Educational settings across England and Scotland continue formal RAAC surveys. According to the Scottish Housing Regulator, who reported in November 2024 Scotland, over 2,445 social-housing units were identified with RAAC and are now under active inspection or repair.
• A recent Guardian report highlighted hundreds of schools and hospital buildings still affected—RAAC has been labelled “life‑expired” and prone to collapse without warning.
• The same report commented that a significant expansion of structural surveys now includes 3,600 postwar school blocks built 1945–1990, many outside the original RAAC focus – indicating broader infrastructure concerns.

In short: the initial spike in panic has eased, but the volume of survey and remediation work remains high – and it’s spreading into new building types.

What This Means for Responsible Bodies

Even as emergency closures have dropped, the push to identify and remove RAAC continues—supported by funding programmes such as the School Rebuilding Programme and specific grants.

• Education settings have caseworkers guiding surveys and mitigation; full face-to-face education has resumed in confirmed cases
• Despite this, 90% of schools with RAAC remain awaiting removal or remediation – a slowdown that could stretch for years
• Hospitals are on a separate clock but face similar challenges – £698 m is allocated by 2025 , with total RAAC eradication targeted by 2035

Survey Solutions: Still the Go‑To RAAC Experts for Consultants and Contractors

Our RAAC plank investigation team remains on speed-dial for schools, colleges, hospitals, social housing and commercial buildings across the UK:

• We identify RAAC presence using CROSS-aligned protocols.
• Deliver detailed technical reports in AutoCAD, PDF, and Excel formats.
• Offer ongoing maintenance and monitoring, including plank-level data tracking.
• Backed by partnerships with structural engineers, we support full remedial action from identification to resolution.

As the remediation landscape shifts, our approach scales too – across education settings, public sector housing, NHS estates and beyond.

Now is the time to move. RAAC surveys remain a non-negotiable requirement, and overlooking this risk can expose projects to serious legal, safety and commercial liabilities. Funding windows are live, with mitigation grants and major rebuilding programmes progressing now. At the same time, the scope is widening—new guidance is driving additional surveys, particularly across system-built schools, which is ramping up pressure on responsible bodies to act decisively. For contractors this is a critical moment to step in, manage risk proactively and secure the right technical support to keep projects moving.

Whether you’re managing a school estate, hospital trust or housing portfolio, Survey Solutions can support your RAAC journey:

• Initial RAAC plank surveys: identify presence, spalling, deformation, structural risk.
• Compliance reporting: CROSS- and DfE-aligned methodology.
• Remediation monitoring: ongoing checks and updates as work progresses.
• Nationwide coverage: fast mobilisation across UK regions.