College Very High Priority Capital Maintenance Funding FY 2026–27
Introduction
- SFC’s College final funding allocations outline the capital maintenance funding allocated to colleges for FY 2026-27. In addition to the allocated capital maintenance funding, SFC has ring-fenced up to £6.5m of the capital maintenance budget to support the highest priority capital/estate needs.
- The purpose of this announcement is to outline the principles and process for colleges to access the ring-fenced capital maintenance fund. A methodology for future capital maintenance allocations may be revised as the College Infrastructure Strategy work progresses.
- Like last year, this year the funds will be distributed in two stages – c. £3.25m each in the autumn and in the winter. As in previous years, colleges are invited to submit expressions of interest (EOI) in the funding.
- The closing date for Stage One EOIs is 31 July and for Stage Two EOIs 27 November.
Criteria for accessing funds
- The unallocated capital maintenance fund is available for a maximum of two high-priority capital works/repairs per stage that meet any of the following criteria:
- an urgent estates health and safety/compliance issue or requirement.
- extraordinary or exceptional circumstances such as a sudden failure which is not part of the planned maintenance regime and is outwith the control of a college.
- unexpected or unplanned works needed due to a significant estates issue having a severe impact on the student experience or curriculum delivery.
- As capital maintenance funding is allocated on an FY basis, funding needs to be used, or be legally committed, by 31 March 2027.
Accessing and allocation of funds
- Colleges should submit EOIs to SFC by emailing estates@sfc.ac.uk. The closing dates are as follows:
- 31 July 2026 for Stage One EOIs.
- 27 November 2026 for Stage Two EOIs.
The email should be titled “SFC very high priority capital funding” and briefly outline the nature of the issue, planned works and funding requirements.
- Requests for funding will be considered on a case-by-case basis, using the criteria listed above, until the funding has been fully allocated. Colleges should be very clear on how their proposal meets the stated criteria to allow SFC staff to evaluate and prioritise projects.
- For those EOIs considered to meet the required criteria, colleges will be invited to complete a standardised funding application form.
- We continue to encourage colleges unable to address urgent repair needs within existing capital maintenance funding to notify SFC as soon as possible. This will allow SFC to be sighted on the extent of urgent need across the college sector.
Further information
- For further information please contact SFC Capital Projects & Programmes Team at estates@sfc.ac.uk.
SFC Strategic Plan 2022-27
Building a connected, agile, sustainable tertiary education and research system for Scotland.