This analysis enables comparison by size across each of the regions and illustrates the spread of aggregate cost by location and size.

As per the trend described earlier in this report, Region 1 schemes remain the most expensive at an average of £7.13 per sq ft across the 3 size classifications followed by Region 3 at an average of £4.87 per sq ft with Region 2 the least expensive at an average of £4.28 per sq ft.

These figures follow the same general trend recorded in the 2007 report, however, the difference between Region 1 and Region 3 has more than doubled this year from £0.98 per sq ft in 2007 to £2.26 per sq ft in 2008, and the difference between Region 3 and Region 2 has more than halved from £1.39 per sq ft in 2007 to £0.59 in 2008.  As mentioned previously in this report the gap between expenditure in Region 3 and Region 2 has closed considerably this year after increasing dramatically in 2007 led by extensive Exceptional Expenditure. In time the expenditure gap in these two regions should close further and continue to track very close to each other as they have done historically - see Chart 6 on Service charge by location for details. Expenditure in Small Region 1 schemes has continued to increase, albeit at a reduced rate in 2008, to an average of £10.44 per sq ft. This is an increase of 14.6% compared to 2007 and an incredible 78.5% from 2006. This may be a function of a decreasing sample size over the past 2 years.

Table 13 - Service charge by size and location (£ per sq ft) Table 13b - Variance from average (£ per sq ft) Table 14 - Variance from average (£ per sq ft) Table 15 - Variance from average (£ per sq ft)