HMP Norwich

Wates Smartspace appointed Build Energy within their supply chain to support delivery of the new Video Conferencing Centre (VCC) at HMP Norwich. The VCC lets prisoners attend court hearings by video link, reducing the need for physical transport to court and bringing clear logistical, security, and welfare benefits. It is one of a nationwide programme of VCC schemes Wates Smartspace is delivering across the Ministry of Justice estate.

HMP Norwich is a Category B local prison in Norwich, Norfolk. The VCC project involved the fit-out and refurbishment of an existing building inside the live, operational prison. The new facility provides 16 video conferencing suites, along with support spaces, accessible facilities, and the technical infrastructure required for secure video court hearings.

Delivering this project in a working prison created significant practical challenges. Every member of site personnel needed advance security clearance, and escorts accompanied them at all times inside the prison. We planned all work around the establishment’s operational timetable, minimising disruption to prison activities throughout the build programme.

The project achieved BREEAM Very Good under the BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit-Out (RFO) scheme. That is a strong environmental performance for a fit-out project within an existing building. The RFO scheme is designed for projects of this type, differing from BREEAM New Construction in both the credits available and the evidence required.

Build Energy provided two core technical services on this project, BREEAM assessment and Indoor Air Quality monitoring, both supporting the VCC’s environmental performance and BREEAM certification.

BREEAM Assessment

We carried out the full BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit-Out assessment for the VCC, covering the credit strategy from design stage through to post-construction certification. Working closely with the Wates Smartspace project team, we identified achievable credits across every category and gathered the evidence needed to support each one. The assessment ultimately returned a Very Good rating – a strong outcome for a fit-out within an active custodial environment.

The RFO scheme differs from BREEAM New Construction in several important ways, since credits tied to the building structure and external envelope don’t apply in the same way, though it still covers energy, water, health and wellbeing, materials, waste, and management. Achieving Very Good under RFO in a live prison demonstrates a genuine commitment to sustainability within real programme constraints.

Indoor Air Quality Monitoring

We carried out Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) monitoring within the completed VCC, measuring concentrations of key pollutants in the internal environment, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter. IAQ monitoring matters particularly in a building used by vulnerable occupants, since it confirms that ventilation systems are performing correctly and the internal environment is safe.

Carrying out IAQ monitoring in a live prison required careful coordination, since testing has to take place while the space is occupied and within the operational constraints of the establishment. We planned every monitoring visit well in advance and completed the work efficiently within the windows available.

HMP Norwich is one of several active Ministry of Justice projects where Build Energy provides technical consultancy, working within the supply chains of tier 1 contractors across the MOJ framework. The schemes we can name publicly include HMP New Hall, Wakefield, another Wates Smartspace VCC scheme from the same nationwide programme targeting BREEAM Outstanding, and HMP Wayland, Norfolk, a 247-place houseblock expansion delivered by Wates Construction and targeting BREEAM Excellent. We also provided technical consultancy on the HMP Exeter New Visitors Building, a BREEAM Excellent new-build delivered within the Vinci Construction UK Ltd supply chain, where our scope covered energy modelling, thermal comfort, indoor air quality, air tightness, a thermographic survey, and commissioning stage services. Build Energy also works on a large number of other Ministry of Justice and wider government schemes across the UK, though most are covered by confidentiality or security restrictions and cannot be named.

Our experience across multiple live prison schemes means we understand what delivery in custodial environments actually involves – restricted access, security protocols, and phased working around prison operations are all familiar constraints. We bring established processes and relevant precedent from day one rather than learning on the job.

Find out more about our work across the justice estate on our justice and MOJ framework practice page.

What is the BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit-Out scheme?

The BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit-Out (RFO) scheme is the standard applied to fit-out and refurbishment projects within existing buildings. It differs from BREEAM New Construction in the credits available, because it does not assess credits related to the building structure, foundations, and external envelope in the same way. It still covers the energy, water, health and wellbeing, materials, waste, and management categories. The scheme is designed to assess the environmental performance achievable within the constraints of an existing building.

What does Indoor Air Quality monitoring involve?

Indoor Air Quality monitoring measures concentrations of key pollutants in the internal environment of a completed building. The monitoring covers carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter, among other parameters. We take readings across representative spaces within the building and compare the results against recognised indoor air quality standards. Where concentrations exceed thresholds, we inspect and adjust the ventilation system accordingly. In buildings used by vulnerable occupants, IAQ monitoring provides important assurance about the safety of the internal environment.

How does BREEAM assessment work in a live prison environment?

BREEAM assessment in a live prison environment follows the same methodology as on any other scheme. However, several practical factors make the process more complex. Gathering evidence on site requires advance security clearance, and every visit is escorted throughout. We also plan the assessment timetable around the operational timetable of the prison. Some credits, particularly those involving occupant surveys or building system inspections, need careful coordination with the prison’s management team. Experience of working in custodial environments makes all of this significantly more straightforward.

What is the difference between BREEAM Very Good and BREEAM Outstanding?

BREEAM ratings are awarded on a points-based scoring system: Very Good requires 55% or more, Excellent 70% or more, and Outstanding 85% or more. The rating achievable on any project depends on the credits available under the applicable scheme and on the practical constraints of the work. For a fit-out within an existing building, Very Good is a strong outcome. Outstanding is more typically targeted on new-build projects, where the full range of BREEAM credits is available from the outset.

Does Build Energy work on other MOJ framework projects?

Yes. Build Energy works on a large number of Ministry of Justice and wider government schemes across the UK, providing technical consultancy within the supply chains of tier 1 framework contractors. Most are covered by confidentiality or security restrictions and cannot be named. The schemes we can name include HMP New Hall, Wakefield, a Wates Smartspace VCC scheme targeting BREEAM Outstanding, and HMP Wayland, Norfolk, a Wates Construction new-build houseblock targeting BREEAM Excellent. We also hold Cyber Essentials certification, a common supply chain requirement for MOJ framework schemes.

• BREEAM 'Very Good' Assessment & Consultancy
• Indoor Air Quality Plan