Sitka spruce grown for commercial timber production on the Cowal peninsula has come full circle, returning as the material for Forestry and Land Scotland’s (FLS) Glenbranter office extension.

This process of growing, harvesting, transporting, processing and then coming back as building material captures Scotland’s sustainable forestry in practice.

FLS brings to market around 40% of Scotland’s timber output supplying both small and large timber processors, including through long term contracts. The timber is used in construction, packaging and biofuel and is certified to international standards of sustainability via the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme.

FLS Assistant Operations Manager Mark Ormsby said:

“It is highly likely that some of timber used in the extension was grown here in the Cowal peninsula and felled by Glennon Brothers under our Long Term Contract agreement, before making its way down the west coast to their Troon sawmill for primary processing and then being transferred to Alexanders Timber Design in Irvine to be turned into the timber frame kit needed for the construction project.

“With the original office’s log cabin style constructed from locally felled and milled Douglas fir, it feels like we’re putting a modern twist on the original design while still showcasing local materials.

“The extension at Glenbranter highlights the importance of how Scotland’s timber industry – from growing forests, milling to designing building material – can safeguard rural jobs for local people and enhance sustainability.”

The office refurbishment will open up the existing building to create a single, open plan environment for 20 staff. The extension will also provide a large, purpose-built meeting room. Staff facilities will also be improved with toilets and showers and a drying room – particularly important given the long, wet winters in Cowal.

Alex Murray, Head of Forestry for Glennon Brothers Scotland, said:

“The FLS Glenbranter project encapsulates the multiple benefits and sustainable nature of the forestry industry. As one of our primary supply sources, logs derived from FLS Cowal peninsula will almost certainly be part of the timber frame kit for this project, completing a truly green circle.

“Glennon Brothers and Alexanders Timber Design have had a close working relationship with FLS for many years ensuring the best use of ‘home grown’ timber supplies for the Scottish housing market.  We are extremely proud of our brand-new state of the art Alexanders Timber Design factory and to be supplying the timber frame kit for the Glenbranter office is an excellent example of our overriding business philosophy, ‘Forest to Front Door’.”

The extension will be undertaken by Greenock-based construction company W.H. Kirkwood Ltd which further ensures the entire project cycle supports jobs in the Scottish timber and construction industries.

Fiona Rodden, Commercial Director at W.H. Kirkwood Ltd, said:

“We at WHK are delighted to be involved in this project for Forestry and Land Scotland. It’s not often you get to work on a project where the materials have such a strong local story. Seeing timber grown, processed and then brought back into use in the same area makes this a particularly rewarding project for us to be part of, while also supporting local jobs and a more sustainable way of building.”

Timber frame construction, a tried and tested technique in Scotland, is gaining ground in England thanks to fact-finding visits organised by the Structural Timber Association. A second visit to forests, processors and manufacturers in Scotland will take place later in March following a successful first visit in October 2025.

The visits saw representatives from a range of sectors – including financiers and housebuilders – familiarise themselves with the quality of C16 grade Scottish timber and timber frame construction techniques while also learning of the benefits that greater uptake could bring to the housing market in England.