New guidance has been issued aimed at improving the standard of estate strategies across the further education (FE) sector.

Issued by the Government on 20 March, the document calls for an increased focus on developing and testing of estates strategies for the college sector to futureproof buildings and increase sustainability.

“The condition and functional suitability of your college estate can have a significant impact on your students, staff, and overall effectiveness and sustainability,” it states.

“At the time of passing from local authority control to their establishment as independent corporate bodies in 1993, colleges inherited an extensive portfolio of properties.

“Many were in a poor state of repair and some were simply not fit for purpose.”

The guidance says that, since this incorporation, the curriculum model for FE has changed significantly, and this process is likely to continue, or accelerate, in response to changes in:

• National priorities and skills needs
• Advances in digital technologies
• The challenge of net zero carbon

“Preparation of an estates strategy should be an integral part of your strategic planning process,” it adds.

“It should be informed by your overall strategic plan as well as a clearly-articulated and up-to-date curriculum strategy that outlines current requirements and a forward view.”

Clear objectives

When creating a strategic plan, as well as a review of the condition of estates, the overall strategy should also include:

• IT and digital infrastructure
• Sustainability
• Finance
• Curriculum
• Teaching and learning

And the document should be reviewed and refreshed every three years, with each review taking up to six months to complete.

“An up-to-date estates strategy is often a condition for capital grant applications, but this should not be the sole driver for commissioning an estates strategy,” it states.

“Rushed strategies, compiled to respond to a live capital bidding round, risk paying insufficient attention to identifying and evaluating robust options.

“In the past, investment has too often been used to fund sub-optimal projects that have minimal long-term benefits and fail to address the most-critical shortcomings in the college estate.”

Meeting the standard

Currently, there is no standard specification for the contents of an estates strategy and, in practice, the depth and breadth of documents can vary considerably from college to college.

However, the new guidance sets out a six-pronged approach.

• Stage 1: Vision and strategic aims for your estate. This should provide strategic direction, guide the completion of your estates strategy, and inform decisions about future investment and options for rationalisation or reconfiguration
• Stage 2: Strategic review of your current estate. A structured assessment of the current college estate should be undertaken to assess how well it is performing and the extent to which it is fit for purpose
• Stage 3: Priorities for meeting the needs of your curriculum. Establish how the estate can support the requirements of your curriculum as set out in your curriculum strategy, as well as to respond to national and regional skills priorities
• Stage 4: Options generation. Once the strategic review of your estate and the statement of priorities has been completed, the next stage is to develop a longlist of potential options to address the priorities and your identified desired outcomes
• Stage 5: Options evaluation. Carry out a rational and objective investment appraisal of each option using an evidence-based process to reach conclusions on the preferred option which aligns with your estates vision and statement of priority needs
• Stage 6: Recommendations and action plan. The final stage is to reach a clear set of conclusions, priorities, and actions, firming up proposals and securing approval to proceed with implementing options