School net zero cost: the per-school capital ceiling worksheet for UK MAT estates teams
School net zero cost in the UK at 2026 anchors is £300k to £3m per site, ex-VAT. A typical primary (1,800 m2, 1945-1976) sits near £480k. A typical secondary (7,500 m2) sits near £2.4m. PSDS Phase 4 plus Salix CIF can offset 60 to 100 per cent of the ceiling; net cost depends on fabric uplift, ASHP sizing and DNO contingency.
The worksheet below replicates the structure of a Salix or PSDS bid form. Each numbered row drives one assumption; the output is a governor-paper-shaped ceiling figure with grant offset and Ofgem Q3 2026 payback. The five hubs below the worksheet (unit rates, funding, four nations, frameworks, Climate Action Plan) justify every number that appears in the output panel.
Per-school net zero capital estimate
ASHP sized to 478 kW from heat-loss coefficient.
2026 per-measure GBP anchors: ASHP, GSHP, solar PV, fabric, glazing, BMS, LED, DNO.
PSDS Phase 4, Salix CIF, Greener Schools Fund, LCSF, Solar for Schools PPA, Mayoral Renewables.
England, Scotland (LAEP), Wales (NZW 2030) and Northern Ireland policy and funding splits.
DfE Construction Framework 2021, CCS RM6238, Pagabo and LHC lot-by-lot.
DfE four pillars: Decarbonisation, Adaptation, Biodiversity, Climate Education.
Assumption register A1-A24 with primary source URL and last-verified date.