ELGIN COPFS – Refurbishment

Project: Low Carbon Retrofit & Refurbishment
Client: COPFS
Location: Elgin
Value: £2.4mill
Listing: Conservation Area
Date Complete: 2024

Elgin Procurator Fiscal Office Low Carbon Retrofit project was successfully handed over to COPFS in August 2024. This project was funded by the Scottish Government Energy Efficiency Grant Scheme and achieved an exceptionally high EPC rating of A 07.

The consultant who completed the EPC stated, “It is quite rare especially for an older “hard to treat” building. I would normally see this in either new buildings with PV and a heat pump or biomass boiler, or if the building has no heating therefore does not use a lot of energy, so well done for getting it to this rating!”

COPFS have committed to meet its targets to reduce carbon emissions in their premises by 2.5% each year and become carbon neutral by 2040. This project is viewed as a pathfinder with the intention of sharing learnings and outcomes to inform decarbonisation routes for similar buildings across the public sector.

The Scottish Government provided grant funding for the organisation to complete a low carbon retrofit of the building to improve its thermal performance. A range of energy efficiency measures including wall and roof insulation and triple glazed windows and entrance doors were installed alongside complete replacement of the heating system to a clean heat system (ASHP) which is supported by renewable energy generation (Solar PV). MVHR units were also installed which will reduce heat loss in the building by approximately 74% alongside the glazing and insulation upgrades

The project also involved the fit out of four existing floors and space planning for up to 20 staff. MLA developed a modern open-plan design where work is completed in a variety of appropriately designed, shared settings and not tethered to specific workstations or location within the building. Flexibility within design that allows for certain areas to be used for different purposes e.g. training, team-briefings, collaboration etc.

The COPFS Estates Working Group also requested that the new design became the model for Future Ways of Working (FWOW), including the flexibility to work from home or a different office. This included an environment that is welcoming for every and any COPFS member of staff and every visitor, including Justice partners and the public.

It has also benefitted the local economy as the contractors Morgan Sindall committed themselves to a social value charter by using local trades and labour, as well as reaching out to a local veterans and service leavers group to engage them in coming into the construction workforce.