Project Need - the 60% weighting.
Project Need is the dominant criterion. The score is built from condition-grading evidence, risk-to-operation narrative, statutory non-compliance, and where applicable health-and-safety notices.
Compiled by Oliver Wakefield-Smith, founder, Digital Signet. Reviewed against ESFA Information for Applicants 2026-27 and the Condition Funding Methodology March 2026 revision.
What the criterion rewards
Severity of condition (C/D grade), the operational consequence of doing nothing (closure risk, displaced pupils, statutory failure), and the credibility of the evidence package.
Evidencing risk to operation
A bid claiming closure risk must demonstrate why and over what timescale. Bids that assert risk without operational evidence (timetable impact, displacement plan, statutory notice) do not score it.
Mandatory condition-grading evidence
Independent condition survey to recognised standard (RICS, CHP, or sector equivalent). Photographic record with date and caption. Where the grading is escalated, the rationale paraphrased against the published methodology.
Enforcing-authority notices
A live enforcement notice (HSE improvement notice, fire-authority enforcement, building-control notice) is the strongest single Project Need evidence available. It must be current at the bid date.