Description of Local Environment
Air Quality
The scheme is located along the A725 in South Lanarkshire and is predominantly surrounded by dense vegetation to the north and residential properties to the south. There are approximately 500 residential properties located within 200m of the works, the closest being 22m south. Further air quality receptors within 200m include Long Calderwood Primary School located approx. 140m south and Crossbasket Castle, a Hotel located approx. 200m north.
The Whirlies Roundabout Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) has declared pollutants including Particulate Matter PM10. This is located approximately 270m west of the end of the scheme extents.
Baseline air quality is likely to be influenced by vehicle traffic along the A725. The closest manual count point (74293) approx. 407m west shows that the Annual Average Daily Flow of Traffic (AADF) in 2023 for all motor vehicles along the A725 was 32,088, with 1,359 of those being heavy good vehicles (HGVs).
No sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) have been identified within 1km of the scheme.
Cultural Heritage
A desk-based assessment was undertaken using Scotland’s Environment Web . A study area of 300m was used for designated cultural heritage assets and an area of 200m was used for non-designated cultural heritage assets. See Table 1 and Table 2 below for full details.
| Name | Reference Number | Description | Distance from scheme |
| Long Calderwood, cairn 40m SSW of 1 Cadell Gardens | SM4701 | Scheduled Monument - The monument is a burial cairn dating probably to the Bronze Age (between around 2000 BC and 800 BC). It is visible as a truncated, grass-covered, roughly circular mound, with a depression in its centre. | 130m south |
| Stoneymeadow Road, General's Bridge | LB26606 | Listed Building (Category B) - 1790; bridge; ashlar. Single span bridge; large pointed arch with battlemented parapet. | 83m north |
| Name | Reference Number | Description | Distance from scheme |
| East Kilbride, Edmund Kean | 298088 | Canmore - Terraced House(S) (20th Century) | 40m South |
| East Kilbride, Bosworth Road, Globe Court | 280857 | Canmore | 80m South |
| Long Calderwood | 44878 | Canmore - Burial Cairn (Bronze Age) | 130m South |
| Stoneymeadow Road, General's Bridge | 228365 | Canmore - Bridge (18th Century) | 83m North |
All works will be undertaken within the carriageway boundary and there are no direct or indirect impacts upon the features, therefore no impacts are anticipated on cultural heritage.
In accordance with DMRB Guidance document LA 116: Cultural Heritage, no further assessment is required.
Landscape and Visual Effects
According to Scotland’s Environment Web there are three unnamed ancient woodland located towards the start of the scheme; the closest one is located directly adjacent to the south of the scheme. There are also three Tree Preservation Orders (TPO)’s (Ref: EK10) located approx. 100m north.
The Scottish Landscape Character Type (LCT) Assessment Map highlighted the landscape within the scheme extents as ‘urban’.
Views from the scheme is primarily dense vegetation at each side of the carriageway, however some residential properties will have a view of the works due to sparse vegetation in some areas throughout the A725, in particular the high rise flat located in Edmund Kean.
Biodiversity
Sitelink does not highlight any European designated sites located within 2km of the scheme extents. Sitelink has however identified the presence of Calder Glen Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) (293) located directly adjacent to the south at the start of the scheme. This is designated for earth sciences such as Lower Carboniferous [Dinantian - Namurian (part)].
The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas has highlighted the following Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) located within 500m of the scheme extents:
- Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum)
- Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
A search of Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) has highlighted the following target species along the verge of the carriageway: Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense), Rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium) and Common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris).
The scheme and the surrounding habitat have been reviewed by a senior ecologist using desktop resources. Based on this review and the nature of the works, which will be confined to the existing carriageway boundary, the need for a field survey has been scoped out.
Geology and Soils
SiteLink has highlighted the River Calder Geological Conservation Review Site (GCRS) located directly adjacent to the south. The GCR was designed to identify those sites of national and international importance needed to show all the key scientific elements of the Earth heritage of Britain. These sites display sediments, rocks, fossils, and features of the landscape that make a special contribution to our understanding and appreciation of Earth science and the geological history of Britain, which stretches back over 2,800 million years.
The British Geology Viewer notes the soil geology within the scheme extents consists of the following:
Superficial deposits
- Till, Devensian - Diamicton. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago during the Quaternary period.
Bedrock geology
- Lower Limestone Formation - Sedimentary rock cycles, Clackmannan group type. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 330.9 and 328 million years ago during the Carboniferous period.
- Lawmuir Formation - Sedimentary rock cycles, Strathclyde group type. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 330.9 and 329 million years ago during the Carboniferous period.
Scotland’s Soils Map indicates that much of the soil within the scheme area remains unidentified, likely due to the urban nature of the location. However, Noncalcareous gley soils have been noted near the start of the scheme, suggesting that similar soils may be present throughout the area.
As the works will be restricted to the existing carriageway boundary and previously engineered layers, it has been determined that the project does not carry the potential to cause direct or indirect impact to geology or soils. As such, no significant impacts are anticipated, and geology and soils has been scoped out of requiring further assessment.
In accordance with DMRB Guidance document LA 109: Geology and Soils, no further assessment is required.
Material Assets and Waste
| Activity | Material required | Origin/content |
| Site Construction |
Bituminous surfacing materials (TS2010 binder/base); Vehicle fuel; Road marking materials and studs; Oil; and Lubricant. |
TS2010 Surface Course allows a wider array of aggregate sources to be considered when compared to typical stone mastic asphalt (SMA). As a result, the use of TS2010 will reduce the usage of imported aggregates and increase the use of a wider range of sustainable aggregate source. A proportion of RAP is used in asphalt production. Typical RAP values for base and binder are 10% - 15% with up to 10% in surface course. All of the materials listed will contain a % of recycled material. The rest will come from primary sources. |
| Activity | Waste arising | Disposal/regulation |
| Site Construction |
Road planings (inert bituminous materials) |
It is Amey policy to reuse or recycle as much waste material as possible Uncontaminated road planings generated as a result of the works, will be fully recycled in accordance with the criteria stipulated within the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) document ‘Guidance on the Production of Fully Recoverable Asphalt Road Planings’. Following on-site coring investigations and testing, no coal-tar was identified within the surfacing of the carriageway within the scheme extent. The Contractor is responsible for the disposal of road planings and this has been registered in accordance with a Paragraph 13(a) waste exemption issued by SEPA, as described in Schedule 3 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 2011. |
Noise and Vibration
There are approximately 700 residential properties located within 300m of the works, the closest being 22m south. Further noise receptors within 300m include:
- Long Calderwood Primary School located approx. 140m south
- Playground Tewkesbury Road located approx. 284m south.
- Crossbasket Castle, a Hotel located approx. 200m north.
- Crossbasket Nursery School located 230m east.
Baseline noise levels are likely to be influenced by vehicle traffic along the A725. The closest manual count point (74293) approx. 407m west shows that the Annual Average Daily Flow of Traffic (AADF) in 2023 for all motor vehicles along the A725 was 32,088, with 1,359 of those being heavy good vehicles (HGVs).
According to the Transportation Noise Action Plan (TNAP) 2019-2023 , the scheme extents are located to the west of the A725 Hamilton Road Calderwood (27) Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA).
Scotland Noise Map notes that the noise within the scheme extents ranges from 75.5 dB – 69 dB LDAY during daytime hours and 72.8 dB – 64.5 dB LNGT during night-time hours.
Population and Human Health
A study area of 300m has been used for this assessment as the works, as the works are minimal and like-for-like and are unlikely to impact any receptors beyond 300m. The scheme is located along the A725 in south Lanarkshire and is predominantly surrounded by dense vegetation to the north and residential properties to the south. There are approximately 700 residential properties located within 300m of the works, the closest one being 22m south. Further receptors within 300m include:
- Crossbasket Castle, a Hotel located approx. 200m north.
The following community facilities are located within 300m:
- Long Calderwood Primary School located approx. 140m south
- Playground Tewkesbury Road located approx. 284m south.
- Crossbasket Nursery School located 230m east.
The South Lanarkshire Councils Core Path Plan highlights several core paths within 300m however the ones to note include the A725 EK Expressway paths EK/1104/1, EK/1104/2 and EK/1106/1 which are all located along the full length of the scheme within the carriageway boundary. The Expressway underpass core path EK/5921/1 is located at NGR: NS 65401 56227 going under the scheme extents. These core paths provide pedestrian access from the scheme to the residential properties within 300m of the works.
There are no National cycle Routes or Bridleways within 300 of the works. The A725 within the scheme extents is street lit and contains one layby for a bus stop that runs services to Hairmyres Hospital and East Kilbride town centre.
Road Drainage and the Water Environment
According to SEPA’s water classification hub Rotten Calder Water (ID: 10052) flows under the scheme extents. This watercourse has an overall moderate ecological potential. Lee’s Burn is not designated by SEPA however is located approx. 130m north from the works.
SEPA Flood Maps has highlighted a high likelihood of surface water flooding within the scheme extents. This suggests that each year this area has a 10% chance of flooding.
The groundwater within the scheme extents comprises East Kilbride groundwater (ID: 150590) which has a ‘poor’ overall ecological potential. This is not listed as drinking water protected area. The scheme is not located within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone.
Drainage along the A725 within the scheme extents consist of filter drains which run along either side of the carriageway.
Climate
Carbon Goals
The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 sets out the target and vision set by the Scottish Government for tackling and responding to climate change (The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009). The Act includes a target of reducing CO2 emissions by 80% before 2050 (from the baseline year 1990). The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019 amended the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to bring the target of reaching net-zero emissions in Scotland forward to 2045 (Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019).
The Scottish Government has since published its indicative Nationally Determined Contribution (iNDC) to set out how it will reach net-zero emissions by 2045, working to reduce emissions of all major greenhouse gases by at least 75% by 2030 (Scotland's contribution to the Paris Agreement: indicative Nationally Determined Contribution - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)). By 2040, the Scottish Government is committed to reducing emissions by 90%, with the aim of reaching net-zero by 2045 at the latest.
Transport Scotland is committed to reducing carbon across Scotland’s transport network and this commitment is being enacted through the Mission Zero for Transport (Mission Zero for transport | Transport Scotland). Transport is the largest contributor to harmful climate emissions in Scotland. In response to the climate emergency, Transport Scotland are committed to reducing their emissions by 75% by 2030 and to a legally binding target of net-zero by 2045.
Monitoring, Management and Opportunities
To support our journey towards carbon neutral and zero waste we include potential opportunities for enhancement utilising circular economy principals within assessment of material assets.
Amey (working on behalf of Transport Scotland) undertake carbon monitoring. Emissions from our activities are recorded using Transport Scotland’s Carbon Management System.
Further information identifying how Amey will obtain the above Carbon Goals can be viewed within the Carbon Management and Sustainability Plan Roadmap to net-zero: STRNMC – South West.
Policies and Plans
This Record of Determination (RoD) has been undertaken in accordance with Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (RSA EIA Regulations) along with Transport Scotland’s Environmental Impact Assessment Guidance (Guidance – Environmental Impact Assessments for road projects (transport.gov.scot)). Relevant guidance, policies and plans accompanied with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB)) LA 101 and LA 104 were used to form this assessment.