The Basic Unit Costs (BUCs) formally referred to as Unit Cost Ceilings, specifically relate to social housing build projects developed directly by local authorities or approved housing bodies on their own land, using Public Works forms of contract. While not a record of actual delivery costs, the BUCs are based on an analysis of returned data from tendered social housing schemes and act as a key benchmark for local authorities or approved housing bodies with the development and costing of scheme designs at capital appraisal stage. The BUCs are reviewed and updated as appropriate by my Department, usually on an annual basis, with the most recent BUCs being issued to all local authorities on 24th May 2024.