Renewal and retrofit programme
Published 15 June 2026
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewal-and-retrofit-programme/renewal-and-retrofit-programme
About the programme
The renewal and retrofit programme was announced in the Education estates strategy: a decade of national renewal and is supported by £710 million of funding.
The programme improves the condition of schools and colleges by:
- extending the life of buildings
- reducing reactive patch and mend
- preventing further deterioration to the point where rebuilding is the only solution
It funds projects at buildings that typically cannot be delivered from existing maintenance funding but that are not at the point of needing to be rebuilt.
The programme takes a holistic approach to individual sites, assessing needs and delivering projects that improve the condition of school and college buildings and increase resilience to climate change, so buildings can last for decades to come and are net zero-ready.
Phase one
The renewal and retrofit programme has an initial focus on replacing the worst condition, life-expired temporary buildings alongside installation of energy generation and efficiency measures.
The first phase of the programme concentrates on a small number of interventions, which may include:
- replacing end-of-life temporary modular buildings with permanent classrooms
- installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels where sites are suitable
Some schools and colleges involved in the programme may also receive additional support, such as:
- an asset resilience and decarbonisation plan that will establish a clear, evidence-based, costed and prioritised high-level plan to protect and enhance your school site, address the maintenance backlog and build performance
- digital estate management tools that can be used to embed the asset resilience and decarbonisation plan and be useful in your day-to-day estate planning and management
- behaviour change initiatives to support your school community to embed good estate management and increase the energy efficiency of your site
- building controls optimisation to ensure existing equipment is working at maximum efficiency
The exact support provided will depend on the needs of individual sites and the outcome of the assessment process.
The first phase of the programme, from 2026 to 2027, is focused on schools and colleges in:
- Yorkshire and the Humber
- East Midlands
- South East
Selection for the programme
The programme is not open to bids. Schools and colleges are selected by the Department for Education (DfE) based on condition need. If your school or college is eligible, DfE will contact you to notify you of the next steps.
Being contacted by DfE does not mean your school or college has been selected. It only means that you meet early suitability criteria and further information is required to assess your suitability for the programme.
Programme organisation
The programme is managed by DfE and delivered with support from specialist regional delivery partners.
These partners:
- carry out surveys and feasibility work
- develop designs and delivery plans
- coordinate contractors and oversee works
- support responsible bodies through the delivery process
DfE oversees the programme and provides funding for agreed works.
Following initial communication from DfE, and if successfully selected for the programme, a regional delivery partner will be your main point of contact.
Actions for schools and colleges
If your school or college is contacted by DfE, you:
- will be asked to provide information to help assess suitability
- will need to confirm that you can support delivery, including providing access to sites and relevant information
- may need to obtain any required approvals or consents if works proceed
If you are not contacted, you do not need to take any action. We do not accept bids for the programme.
Further information
Schools and colleges that are contacted via their responsible bodies will receive detailed guidance, including next steps, how to respond and how to raise any questions you may have.
For further information on managing your school and college buildings, log onto Manage your education estates.