The Highland Birchwoods-led report into the potential for using timber cladding on buildings in Scotland is likely to be favourable in its conclusions, according to Mr Davies.
While unwilling to discuss detailed findings ahead of the report’s official publication later this year, he says: ‘There aren’t any major questions – we can’t see any technical reasons why timber cladding can’t be a durable material in Scottish conditions.’
Researchers have also received generally enthusiastic feedback from architects, developers, planners and building control officials when asking whether they might be interested in using timber cladding.
As part of the remit, researchers have also been asked to assess the historical precedents for timber cladding.
Mr Davies says that, while there is a dearth of reliable data relevant to Scotland, there is clear evidence of a ‘substantial’ tradition north of the border attached to the use of timber cladding. ‘A lot more than people think,’ he underlines.
