Councils challenge BSF axe

Local authorities mount legal proceedings having "spent money in good faith" on doomed school-building programme

The best laid plans: Councils believe the government has been "irrational, unfair and short-sighted"

A slew of local councils have launched legal claims against the government for axing the £55bn Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. The government called time on the programme in July, resulting in 715 school refurbishment projects being culled.

Last week Sandwell Council became the latest to mount legal proceedings over the decision to halt projects not signed off by 1 January 2010.

Councils in Luton, Nottingham and Waltham Forest also announced legal action last week to secure the future of projects already underway.

In a statement, Sandwell Council said the government had been “irrational, unfair and short-sighted” in its decision to wind up the programme.

"We did what we were told and spent money on preparatory work in good faith, " added the statement. "Given the circumstances we believe we have no alternative but to mount a legal challenge.”