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School decarbonisation unit rates: 2026 GBP anchors

Author: Oliver Wakefield-Smith, Founder Digital Signet. Reviewed against DfE Sustainability Strategy (Mar 2025) and Education Estates Strategy (Feb 2026). Verified 22 June 2026.

Every unit-rate figure on schoolnetzero.co.uk traces to a primary source. Where Salix PSDS application data exists, that is the canonical anchor; where it does not, BEIS / Barbour ABI regional indices and CIBSE practitioner figures back-stop. Each measure page below carries its own assumption register row (A1 to A8) and a worked example.

The 2026 anchor table

ASHP at £2,000/kW installed (range 1,500 to 2,500). GSHP at £2,800/kW including borehole field. Rooftop solar PV at £1,100/kWp. Fabric at £90 to 380/m2 depending on age band. LED relamp at £18 to 32/m2. BMS controls flat £38k primary / £70k secondary. DNO connection upgrade carried as £30k to 150k contingency.

Which measures dominate per-school CAPEX

For a 1945-1976 secondary, fabric and ASHP together account for 75 to 85 per cent of the ceiling. Solar PV and LED are payback-positive within the Salix gateways but contribute under 15 per cent of the ceiling. BMS controls and DNO contingency together rarely exceed 10 per cent.

Regional multipliers

Apply a regional multiplier to each capital line. London 1.18, South East 1.10, South West 1.02, East Midlands and West Midlands 0.98, North East 0.95, Scotland 1.03, Wales 0.99, Northern Ireland 0.94. The methodology page documents the source (Barbour ABI regional construction cost indices, 2025 vintage).

Sources cited on this page

Prepared by schoolnetzero.co.uk, 22 June 2026.Page: unit-ratesAuthor: Oliver Wakefield-Smith, Founder Digital Signet.