A new multi-million pound research hub is set to be created by Edinburgh Napier University.

The 'green gold' timber research facility will cost over £3 million and examine how Scotland's forests will support sustainable housing construction in the UK.

The hub will be built by Key Property Solutions at 7Hills Business Park in Sighthill. The centre is due to open in spring 2017.

University researchers will work with the industry to accelerate the development of a range of timber technologies, including high energy efficient walls, whole roofs built off-site and new coating techniques aimed at extending the life of timber.

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The hub has been announced alongside Chancellor Philip Hammond's pledge towards the new City Deal programme, which will see thousands of new homes built through publicly-funded construction projects.

Professor Sean Smith, Director of Sustainable Construction at Edinburgh Napier, said: "Seventy-five per cent of new housing in Scotland is timber based and that is expected to grow to more than eighty-five per cent in the coming years.

"Timber construction across the rest of the UK is also forecast to increase significantly, and the new research facility will support the ambitions of Government, local authorities, housing associations and industry to develop new housing innovations."

The new facility will also link with the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre based at the Hamilton International Park in High Blantyre.

"Our facility will complement, rather than duplicate, the facilities at Hamilton, thus providing an integrated R&D platform for industry and researchers," Professor Smith continued.

"We have a strong record of our students being involved with new industry innovations and the facility will also enhance their experiential learning."

(LM/JP)