Norfolk County Council has appointed Turner & Townsend to support a major new programme of public sector decarbonisation works across the authority’s real estate portfolio. 

The programme will deliver improved energy efficiency and eliminate the use of fossil fuel across 106 assets that are owned or managed by NCC – ranging from libraries to fire stations..

The global professional services business will provide project and cost management services to support the delivery of the decarbonisation programme, which is part of NCC’s wider commitment to achieve net zero across all operations by 2030. 

Turner & Townsend will act as preferred partner to the council to advise on the delivery of its environment policy and net zero carbon strategy.  

Running for four years, the works will span a diverse portfolio including community hubs, workplaces, children’s homes, fire and rescue services, libraries and museums. 

The project will take a fabric first approach to building retrofit – focusing on improvements such as insulation, draught-proofing, and ventilation. 

In tackling the programme Turner & Townsend will draw on its experience of delivering retrofit investments to improve the sustainability performance of public and private sector assets. 

Its teams already lead on the delivery of retrofit accelerator programmes for the Department of Business and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Greater London Authority (GLA). 

Turner & Townsend was reappointed earlier this year to run the latest phase of the Social Housing Retrofit Accelerator, helping providers access £173m of funding – and the business also leads the long-established accelerator schemes for homes and workplaces.

Ashley Carline, director at Turner & Townsend, said: “This appointment is the latest project to showcase Turner & Townsend’s place at the forefront of the industry when it comes to advising and successfully delivering retrofit programmes and net zero strategies. Improving the fabric of the nation’s buildings is a central part of meeting the UK’s net zero targets, and public sector buildings are at the heart of this. 

“Norfolk’s ambitious programme sets a strong example to other local authorities dealing with the complexity of managing a wide variety of building types. We look forward to working with the council over the next four years to bring the project to a successful conclusion.”

Norfolk County Councillor Greg Peck added: “NCC has already made large steps to reducing the carbon footprint of its built estate, for example in moving away from gas boilers, better insulation of our buildings or the use of LED lighting. 

“As an authority we are committed to achieving zero carbon by 2030, if not sooner and look forward to working with key partners to understand what further steps we need to take across the estate. 

“These studies will identify interventions to improve building fabric, technology, and energy use in a very diverse estate and make a series of recommendations to cabinet.”