More than 4,100 prison cells have closed since 2010 due to poor maintenance and in the NHS an average of 5,400 clinical service incidents – ranging from closed departments and suspended services to cancelled appointments – occur each year due to property and infrastructure failures.
It warns that government properties are potentially at further risk from issues that have yet to emerge, like the emergency repair works needed to address the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) and asbestos across the government estate.
Caption: A taped off section a primary school in Leicester which has been affected with sub standard reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac). (Photo: Jacob King/PAThe way departments bid for money for property maintenance hinders the ability to plan longer-term works, the committee say. Long term planning would improve value for money for taxpayers but MPs found maintenance works can be concentrated close to the end of a year to avoid losing funding, despite weather conditions being less favourable.
The MPs report called for more consideration to given as standard to alternatives to maintenance which may deliver better value for money, such as moving to new buildings.
Caption: RAAC safety works at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kings Lynn Image by Jo Rust, supplied to writer Cahal MilmoThe PAC inquiry concluded that many departments simply lacked the skills and abilities to effectively manage the properties they were responsible for. It found a shortage of skilled professionals across departments, pointing out the lack of capacity and capability “impacts their ability to maintain properties effectively, including both carrying out the work required and managing contractors.”
Efforts to remedy the poor state of official buildings by tackling a backlog of work are being are undermined by incomplete and inconsistent data being used, MPs found.
RAAC safety works at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kings Lynn (Iamge by Jo Rust)The Cabinet Office, questioned about the missing information about the true state of buildings in the Government’s £187bn property portfolio, said it plans to ‘close these gaps’ and will publish a more comprehensive State of the Estate report in 2026–27.
“The maintenance backlog is the value of work that has not been carried out or has been deferred when maintaining assets. Delaying these works can significantly increase future costs,” the committee warned.
The NAO spending watchdog believes there is a £10bn maintenance backlog to fix schools. Scaffolding surrounds Balbardie Primary School in 2023 when RAAC concrete was identified in the building. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, Chair of the Committee, said: “There is only so much that even the most diligent and committed professionals can do to maintain a high standard of service, when working in poorly maintained buildings.
“We regularly hear from this government that it aims to ‘fix the foundations’ of the country. We hope the recommendations in our report help government to quite literally do just that, for those who live, work and depend on these crumbling structures. It is incumbent on government to move with the utmost alacrity to swiftly address these long-running issues.”
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