COPFS Edinburgh Office
Framework: SCAPE Scotland Construction Framework
Client: Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Services
Location: Edinburgh
Budget: £9.8m
Completion: November 2025
Sector: Civic & Offices
“Morgan Sindall’s teamwork and collaboration skills -particularly the ability to find common ground - have made a significant, positive impact on the project’s dynamic and productivity. Our staff at COPFS consistently praise your professionalism and helpfulness.”
Billy Law
Senior Estates Manager, COPFS
Following the successful delivery of the COPFS office in Elgin, the £9.8m refurbishment of its historic Edinburgh office transformed the building into a low-carbon workplace that supports COPFS' 2040 net-zero ambitions.
Delivered for Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) by Morgan Sindall Construction through the SCAPE Scotland Construction Framework, the project improved thermal performance and reduced energy demand, while preserving the building's historic character
The refurbishment supports COPFS's long-term net-zero ambitions through the introduction of low-carbon technologies, upgraded building fabric and modernised building services.
COPFS required a major decarbonisation programme to improve the performance of one of Edinburgh's most prominent historic civic buildings while maintaining day-to-day operations throughout construction.
Working within a listed building presented unique challenges. The project needed to respect the building’s heritage while delivering solutions that would create measurable reductions in energy consumption, carbon emissions and operational costs. Throughout the project, the building would remain occupied by COPFS staff, with a city-centre location that also required careful coordination.
A fabric-first approach was adopted to maximise energy efficiency before introducing low-carbon heating technologies.
Working closely with the client, design team and heritage stakeholders, Morgan Sindall delivered a package of building fabric improvements alongside major M&E upgrades. Particular emphasis was placed on retaining and enhancing original architectural features wherever possible, ensuring the historic character of the building was preserved while significantly improving performance.
The refurbishment was carefully phased to minimise disruption and maintain business continuity throughout the occupied building. Key interventions included:
- Replacement glazing using high-performance Fineo 8 vacuum glazing units
- Retention and refurbishment of existing sash and case windows
- Bespoke secondary glazing systems within basement areas
- Blown bead insulation to external walls
- Hemp-based insulation installed within roof voids and mansard roof areas
- Aerogel insulation incorporated around window reveals and dormer interfaces
By retaining the original window frames and reglazing off-site, the team achieved a saving of approximately 18 tonnes of embodied carbon while preserving the historic character of the building.
The building's services infrastructure was also transformed through:
- Replacement of 16 gas-fired boilers with a high-temperature air source heat pump system.
- Upgrade of electrical infrastructure and power supplies.
- Full LED lighting replacement throughout the building.
- Refurbishment and retention of heritage light fittings where appropriate.
- Modernisation of building services to improve efficiency and occupant comfort.
These improvements support COPFS's wider 2040 net-zero ambitions while reducing long-term running costs and improving environmental performance.
Careful phasing ensured staff could continue working safely and efficiently throughout construction. Dedicated access routes, temporary works arrangements and regular communication with building users helped minimise disruption while maintaining security and operational requirements. The project team also worked closely with heritage and planning stakeholders to ensure all interventions were appropriate for the building's listed status.
Supporting Scotland's transition to net zero
The project generated £1.16m of social value by combining low-carbon innovation with investment in local manufacturing, skills development and regional supply chains.
A standout feature of the project was the use of hemp-based insulation supplied by IndiNature, a Scottish manufacturer producing natural insulation from locally grown hemp. By sourcing the material from a business supported by both Scottish and UK Government initiatives, the project helped create demand for local manufacturing, supported regional employment and demonstrated how decarbonisation projects can strengthen domestic supply chains while reducing environmental impact.
The project also showcased innovative retrofit solutions to key stakeholders, including the Scottish Government's Head of Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation, highlighting the role historic buildings can play in Scotland's net-zero journey. Following the success of the project, lessons learned are being shared to help support the next generation of SMEs and suppliers delivering low-carbon building transformation across Scotland.
"IndiNature is a fantastic example of the circular economy in action, transforming what would otherwise become construction waste into sustainable building materials. The company continues to demonstrate how innovation can unlock greater value from resources, reduce waste and help build a more resilient future for Scotland."
Jane Beasley
Circular Economy Delivery Director, Zero Waste Scotland
Social value outcomes
This project has been submitted by Morgan Sindall Construction as part of the collaborative Social Value in Construction Benchmarking Report. This report captures the latest insights into the regional and national trends in social value delivery; learn more here.
£1.16m
social value
55
school engagement hours
12
apprenticeship/T-Level weeks
£1,359
in charitable donations
£31k
spent with social enterprises
In collaboration with:
Meet the lead:
Rachel Park
Senior Framework Manager
Project gallery
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