diff --git a/config/environments/development.rb b/config/environments/development.rb
index 03eb9d6529..d633043d05 100644
--- a/config/environments/development.rb
+++ b/config/environments/development.rb
@@ -71,6 +71,9 @@
     Bullet.bullet_logger = true
     Bullet.rails_logger = true
   end
+
+  # load WIP features flag
+  config.deploy_wip_pipelines = true
 end
 
 Rack::MiniProfiler.config.position = 'right'
diff --git a/config/environments/test.rb b/config/environments/test.rb
index 1cd73956ed..b118bfe8c2 100644
--- a/config/environments/test.rb
+++ b/config/environments/test.rb
@@ -50,4 +50,7 @@
 
   # Raises error for missing translations.
   # config.action_view.raise_on_missing_translations = true
+
+  # load WIP features flag
+  config.deploy_wip_pipelines = true
 end
diff --git a/lib/record_loader/application_record_loader.rb b/lib/record_loader/application_record_loader.rb
index b96a6a14e4..961a9c07c6 100644
--- a/lib/record_loader/application_record_loader.rb
+++ b/lib/record_loader/application_record_loader.rb
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
+require 'find'
 
 # This file was automatically generated by `rails g record_loader`
 module RecordLoader
@@ -9,5 +10,23 @@ class ApplicationRecordLoader < RecordLoader::Base
     # Uses the standard RailsAdapter
     # @see https://rubydoc.info/github/sanger/record_loader/RecordLoader/Adapter
     adapter RecordLoader::Adapter::Rails.new
+
+    def wip_list
+      # return a list of WIP files name as features if deploy_wip_pipelines is set to true, or return empty list
+      deploy_wip_pipelines = Rails.application.config.try(:deploy_wip_pipelines) || false
+      return [] unless deploy_wip_pipelines
+
+      wip_files = []
+      # @path returns 'config/default_records' directory
+      # see https://github.com/sanger/record_loader/blob/master/lib/record_loader/base.rb
+      wip_files_path = @path
+      Find.find(wip_files_path) do |path|
+        if path.match?(/\wip\.yml$/)
+          file_name = File.basename(path, '.wip.yml')
+          wip_files << file_name
+        end
+      end
+      wip_files
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/data/record_loader/application_record_loader/example.wip.yml b/spec/data/record_loader/application_record_loader/example.wip.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..51074a83b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/data/record_loader/application_record_loader/example.wip.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# Test record loader records
+---
+Test Record:
+  test_attribute: "A Value"
diff --git a/spec/lib/record_loader/application_record_loader_spec.rb b/spec/lib/record_loader/application_record_loader_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8f55825505
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/lib/record_loader/application_record_loader_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+require 'rails_helper'
+require 'record_loader/application_record_loader'
+
+RSpec.describe RecordLoader::ApplicationRecordLoader, :loader, type: :model do
+  def a_new_record_loader
+    described_class.new(directory: test_directory)
+  end
+
+  subject(:record_loader) { a_new_record_loader }
+
+  let(:test_directory) { Rails.root.join('spec/data/record_loader/application_record_loader') }
+
+  context 'when deploy_wip_pipelines is false' do
+    before { allow(Rails.application.config).to receive(:deploy_wip_pipelines).and_return(false) }
+
+    it 'returns an empty array' do
+      expect(record_loader.wip_list).to eq([])
+    end
+  end
+
+  context 'when deploy_wip_pipelines is true' do
+    before do
+      allow(Rails.application.config).to receive(:deploy_wip_pipelines).and_return(true)
+      allow(Find).to receive(:find).with(test_directory).and_yield("#{test_directory}/example.wip.yml")
+    end
+
+    it 'returns a list of WIP features' do
+      expect(record_loader.wip_list).to eq(['example'])
+    end
+  end
+
+  context 'when deploy_wip_pipelines is not set' do
+    before { allow(Rails.application.config).to receive(:deploy_wip_pipelines).and_return(nil) }
+
+    it 'returns an empty array' do
+      expect(record_loader.wip_list).to eq([])
+    end
+  end
+end