Opinion Piece: How Fabric First Pays Multiple Dividends
Ahead of the upcoming Education Estates Conference in Manchester, Tim Warneford, Director of Warneford Consulting, shares insights from his work with Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls, highlighting the benefits of a Fabric First approach. This case study demonstrates how schools can address both condition improvements and decarbonisation targets, a strategy that could benefit all educational institutions.
Why Fabric First?
A Fabric First strategy, focusing on the building’s structure and insulation, is a time-tested method. Historically, maintaining a secure, insulated environment was essential, whether for ancient shelters or modern buildings. What’s different now is the urgency of its widespread adoption—not only on a school level, as with Sutton Grammar, but at a national level, within the Department for Education’s (DfE) Good Estate Management for Schools (GEMS) and Climate Action Plan.
With schools facing soaring energy costs, this approach helps reduce carbon footprints while protecting budgets. Pre-crisis, energy made up 1% of a school’s budget, but that figure now hovers around 2%, cutting into valuable resources for education. High energy costs are here to stay, and a Fabric First approach offers a cost-effective solution.
Weatherproofing Wins
One of the major advantages of a Fabric First approach is weatherproofing. Building longevity is compromised by leaks and water damage, leading to skyrocketing repair costs if not addressed early. Adopting proper insulation during repairs ensures compliance with DfE guidelines, increases energy efficiency, and allows the integration of technologies like solar panels—further cutting costs and carbon emissions.
Wider Appraisal Options
An insulated, weatherproof structure also provides flexibility when considering renewable heating solutions, like air or ground source heat pumps. Without insulation, schools are often forced to stick with gas systems, locking them into a high-carbon future. Implementing a long-term estate strategy can yield significant financial and carbon savings, setting a roadmap for schools across the UK.
The government has yet to fully commit to a large-scale investment in this strategy, but the hope is that Fabric First will play a key role in future planning.
See Tim at the Education Estates Roundtable, where he will lead the debate.
