diff --git a/Core/include/Core/Material.h b/Core/include/Core/Material.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..7d88fd4c73d4d99db4e7290e14d28b947cfabc3b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Core/include/Core/Material.h
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/*****************************************************************************\
+* (c) Copyright 2000-2020 CERN for the benefit of the LHCb Collaboration      *
+*                                                                             *
+* This software is distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public      *
+* Licence version 3 (GPL Version 3), copied verbatim in the file "COPYING".   *
+*                                                                             *
+* In applying this licence, CERN does not waive the privileges and immunities *
+* granted to it by virtue of its status as an Intergovernmental Organization  *
+* or submit itself to any jurisdiction.                                       *
+\*****************************************************************************/
+#pragma once
+
+#include <Core/DeIOV.h>
+
+#include <TGeoMedium.h>
+
+using LHCb::Detector::NotImplemented;
+
+namespace LHCb::Detector {
+
+  /**
+   * Handle class around ROOT TGeoMedium describing a Material
+   *
+   * Extends the Material class defined in DD4hep, so that an
+   * interface backward compatible with DetDesc can be offered
+   */
+  struct Material : dd4hep::Material {
+
+    using dd4hep::Material::Material;
+
+    /// Material name accessors
+    const std::string& name() const;
+
+    /// Material radiation length [cm]
+    double radiationLength() const { return radLength(); };
+
+    /// Mean excitiation energy
+    double I() const { throw NotImplemented(); }
+
+    /// Parameters for density effect correction
+    double C() const { throw NotImplemented(); }
+    double a() const { throw NotImplemented(); }
+    double m() const { throw NotImplemented(); }
+    double X1() const { throw NotImplemented(); }
+    double X0() const { throw NotImplemented(); }
+  };
+
+} // namespace LHCb::Detector
diff --git a/Detector/VP/include/Detector/VP/DeVP.h b/Detector/VP/include/Detector/VP/DeVP.h
index a50f56f8e151bedcf1bbd8af982833f4cfdd5fd6..05bf264d94eb60740ea61ccfb58f856b0851b8fe 100644
--- a/Detector/VP/include/Detector/VP/DeVP.h
+++ b/Detector/VP/include/Detector/VP/DeVP.h
@@ -67,6 +67,12 @@ namespace LHCb::Detector {
       /// Sine squared of rotation angle for each sensor.
       std::array<double, VP::NSensors> m_s2; /// Return the pixel size.
 
+      // beamspot
+      ROOT::Math::XYZPoint m_beamSpot{0., 0., 0.};
+
+      // whether the velo is closed
+      bool m_isVeloClosed{false};
+
       void applyToAllChildren( const std::function<void( LHCb::Detector::DeIOV )>& func ) const override {
         for ( auto& side : sides ) { func( LHCb::Detector::DeIOV{&side} ); };
       };
@@ -150,13 +156,9 @@ namespace LHCb::Detector {
     const DeVPSide left() const { return DeVPSide( &( this->access()->sides[0] ) ); }
 
     /// Compute the center of the moving velo and call it 'beamSpot'
-    auto beamSpot() const {
-      // It is understandable
-      const auto leftpos  = this->toGlobal( left().motionSystemTransform().value()( ROOT::Math::XYZPoint{0, 0, 0} ) );
-      const auto rightpos = this->toGlobal( right().motionSystemTransform().value()( ROOT::Math::XYZPoint{0, 0, 0} ) );
-      // It is understandable that we cannot add points, but it makes taking averages cumbersome
-      return ROOT::Math::XYZPoint{0.5 * ( ROOT::Math::XYZVector{leftpos} + ROOT::Math::XYZVector{rightpos} )};
-    }
+    auto beamSpot() const { return this->access()->m_beamSpot; }
+    /// says whether the velo is closed
+    auto veloClosed() const { return this->access()->m_isVeloClosed; }
   };
   using DeVP = DeVPElement<detail::DeVPObject>;
 } // End namespace LHCb::Detector
diff --git a/Detector/VP/src/DeVP.cpp b/Detector/VP/src/DeVP.cpp
index 1c011fa99b0206914240ea7c10e3c4ef35d8716b..555ff6aa35d9d4e953dd3a5c622eddcb6b2ee860 100644
--- a/Detector/VP/src/DeVP.cpp
+++ b/Detector/VP/src/DeVP.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,14 @@ LHCb::Detector::detail::DeVPObject::DeVPObject( const dd4hep::DetElement&
         m_s2[to_unsigned( sensor.sensorNumber )] = vg.y() * vg.y(); // sin^2
       }
     }
-  };
+  }
+  // Compute the center of the moving velo and call it 'beamSpot'
+  const auto leftpos  = this->toGlobal( sides[0].motionSystemTransform().value()( ROOT::Math::XYZPoint{0, 0, 0} ) );
+  const auto rightpos = this->toGlobal( sides[1].motionSystemTransform().value()( ROOT::Math::XYZPoint{0, 0, 0} ) );
+  m_beamSpot = ROOT::Math::XYZPoint{0.5 * ( ROOT::Math::XYZVector{leftpos} + ROOT::Math::XYZVector{rightpos} )};
+  // Computes whether velo is closed
+  m_isVeloClosed = ( std::abs( leftpos.x() - m_beamSpot.x() ) < 5 * dd4hep::mm &&
+                     std::abs( rightpos.x() - m_beamSpot.x() ) < 5 * dd4hep::mm );
 }
 
 LHCb::Detector::detail::DeVPSideObject::DeVPSideObject( const dd4hep::DetElement&             de,