School feasibility study - frequently asked questions
The ten questions a bursar asks most often, answered tersely. Every answer carries the rule reference where the figure or rule comes from.
How much does a school feasibility study cost in the UK in 2026?
A typical multidisciplinary Stage 0-2 feasibility for a primary school lands at £18,500-£32,500. Secondary schemes commonly £22,000-£38,500. SEN scope adds 12-15%. Net-zero retrofit can run to £47,500 on a secondary. Architect-only briefs are lower: £8,000-£16,000.
Is the feasibility fee CIF-eligible?
CIF does not fund the feasibility upfront. The fee is recoverable as a reasonable pre-construction cost from a successful CIF award; if the bid fails the trust carries the fee. Treat as cashflow risk and ringfence the trust reserve before commissioning.
How long does a feasibility study take?
Typical Stage 0-2 multidisciplinary feasibility runs six to ten weeks. Stage 0 only: two to four weeks. Stage 0-1: four to six weeks. Stage 0-3: ten to sixteen weeks. SRP feasibility runs twelve to twenty weeks because of full multidisciplinary scope and Gen Zero compliance.
Do I need an architect or a full multidisciplinary team?
For CIF and SRP work, almost always multidisciplinary: CIF Section C wants a fundable Cost Plan A (chartered QS) and condition evidence (chartered surveyor), and SRP DfE-appointed feasibility is multidisciplinary by default. Architect-only works for Stage 0 strategic options and single-element schemes below £200k construction value.
What deliverables should I expect for my fee?
For a Stage 0-2 multidisciplinary feasibility: site survey package (topo, measured, condition, R&D2 asbestos), options appraisal, BB103/BB104 area schedule, Cost Plan A under NRM1, planning pre-app, programme to construction handover, risk register, governor pack.
Does the £710m Renewal & Retrofit Programme fund the feasibility?
Yes - it is structured to fund pre-construction work including options appraisal and feasibility, subject to DfE allocation. Verdict: green where the school is in scope for the programme.
Can I use SEMS and GEMS data to self-serve part of the feasibility?
Yes for Stage 0 and parts of Stage 1 (brief drafting against BB103/BB104, condition data review, options scoping). Cost Plan A, R&D2 asbestos, measured surveys and planning pre-app require external chartered consultants.
What is the difference between a feasibility study, a condition survey and an options appraisal?
Condition survey is a structured walk-through scoring elements. Options appraisal is a weighted comparison of alternatives. Feasibility study takes the chosen option to concept design and Cost Plan A. CIF Section B needs the survey; Section C needs the feasibility output.
What is the BB103 area driver for an expansion?
Primary: roughly 4.0-5.0m² gross internal area per pupil. Secondary: roughly 6.5-7.0m² per pupil. Plus playing-field and external standards. A 1FE-to-2FE primary expansion implies approximately 1,050m² of new GIA before circulation and plant.
How do I shortlist consultants for the ITT?
Pick one consultant aligned to the funding route, one local firm with strong recent regional references, and one regional or MAT-framework practice for fee benchmarking. Use the evaluation matrix on /procurement-pack to score tenders.
Anything else
If you have a question this FAQ does not answer, the source register lists every primary document the site is built on; the methodology page explains how each figure was derived. RIBA POW 2020