The project will develop new knowledge and share best practice in the design, construction and maintenance of external timber cladding. In peripheral areas, the maritime climate is characterised by severe exposure to wind-driven rain, which can cause water penetration into the external walls of buildings leading to building failures. Special detailing is needed to prevent these problems and these detailing techniques are not always properly understood. By working together to solve these common problems, the project partners will improve building performance, create opportunities for business development, and increase the value addition from sustainable supplies of timber grown in the NPP area. Expected Results: • Greater use of local timber: by improving local timber markets in western Norway and the Scottish Highlands the project will contribute to both rural development and the improved management of natural resources in these areas.• Improved housing design: the increased use of light-weight timber cladding can reduce construction costs for housing in rural areas, the savings can be spent on improved insulation. Compared to masonry cladding a thinner timber façade also allows more of the wall thickness to be used for insulation. These benefits are particularly important in rural Scotland.• Increased awareness of durable detailing and construction methods: an increased awareness of building details that provide for long term durability will benefit private householders, and public sector landlords.• Reductions in carbon consumption: increased local sourcing of timber will reduce the energy used in transportation in western Norway and the Scottish Highlands. The benefits are even greater in Scotland due to the current reliance on masonry cladding. If some of this was replaced by timber cladding, rural houses could be better insulated and the energy used in transporting heavy masonry block-work could be reduced.