Description of local environment
Air quality
The scheme extents are bordered by dense mature deciduous trees, with trees sparser at the start of the scheme extents. Agricultural fields can be found to the west of the scheme extents with the town of Linwood to north and Johnstone to the south and east.
There are over 100 residential properties within 200m of the scheme extents, the closest one being approximately 48m north on Kintyre Avenue. There are multiple businesses located within 200m of the works area. Notable sensitive receptors within the scheme extents include the following:
- Linwood playground, Clippens Road, located 100m north;
- Linwood basketball courts, Clippens Road, located 87m north;
- Linwood football pitches located 149m north; and,
- Linwood riverside walk located 164m north.
Baseline air quality is likely to be predominantly influenced by traffic along the A737. Manual count point 80545, located 1.1km northeast of the scheme, shows that in 2023, the Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) for all motor vehicles was 59,811 with 2,089 of these being Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).
Renfrewshire Council have declared three Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs), however all are situated beyond 200m of the scheme extents and the diversion route.
There are no Air Quality Management Stations located within 200m of the scheme extents. Additionally, there are no sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) located within 1km of the scheme extents.
Cultural heritage
A desk-based assessment was undertaken using Pastmap online mapping tool. The study area covered a 300m area for designated cultural heritage assets and a 200m area for non-designated cultural heritage assets. There are no designated cultural heritage assets located within 300m. Full details of non-designated assets can be found in Table 1.
| Name | Reference Number | Description | Distance from Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnstone Hospital, Linwood Evaluation | 369004 | Canmore - No Class (Event) (Period Unassigned) | Approx. 129m north of the scheme extents |
As works are like-for-like structural with no breaking of ground or excavation, there will be no impact on any identified cultural heritage assets. Therefore, cultural heritage has been scoped out of further assessment.
Landscape and visual effects
The scheme extents are predominantly bordered by dense mature deciduous trees, with trees sparser at the start of the scheme extents. Agricultural fields can be found to the west of the scheme extents with the town of Linwood to north and Johnstone to the south and east.
Some open space also borders the scheme extents, taking the form of outdoor paths and recreation areas such as Linwood Riverside Walk located 164m north of the scheme extents. There are no distinctive cultural landscape or historical landscape features within the scheme extents.
According to Scotland’s Environment Web, there are no Gardens and Designed Landscapes, Ancient Woodlands, National Scenic Areas or any Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) within 500m of the scheme extents.
Scotland’s Historic Land Use Assessment (HLA) Map notes that the land within the scheme extents has been previously used as ‘Rectilinear Fields and Farms’ and ‘Rough Grazing’.
A search on the Landscape Character Type (LCT) Map has highlighted that the LCT within the scheme extents can be classed as ‘0 - Urban’ and ‘198 - Agricultural Plain - Glasgow & Clyde Valley’, characterised by low-lying landforms with urban influences.
The views from the carriageway are mostly of mature trees. Where trees are sparse, industrial buildings can be seen.
Due to the lack of vegetative screening in some areas, multiple residents will have views of the scheme extents, particularly those along Mill of Cart Way and residents within the higher levels of residential flats on Melrose Avenue facing southward. Businesses within the Linwood Industrial Estate, recreational areas and core paths have also been identified as visual receptors.
Biodiversity
According to NatureScot’s Sitelink online research tool, Black Cart Special Protection Area (SPA) (ID: 8471), is located approximately 3.4km northeast of the scheme extents. Despite these designations being beyond investigation boundaries, there is hydrological connectivity, via a tributary of Black Cart Water, to the scheme extents at NGRs NS 43813 63982.
The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas has identified the following Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) and target species within 500m (noting all of which were recorded out with the scheme extents):
- Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) – INNS
- Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) - INNS
- Japanese rose (Rosa rugosa) – INNS
- Broad leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius) – Target species
- Rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium) – Target species
- Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense) – Target species
According to Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) the following INNS and target species are present along the verge of the A737 within the scheme extents:
- Himalayan balsam
- Japanese knotweed
- Creeping thistle
- Rosebay willowherb
Geology and soils
There are no Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS), Local Geodiversity Sites or any Geological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)s that have connectivity or are within 200m of the scheme extents as noted by NatureScot’s Sitelink.
There is no soil data available within the scheme extents according to Scotland’s Soils Map. This is likely due to the scheme location’s urbanised, built-up nature. The national land capability for agriculture within the scheme extents can be categorised as ‘888’ urban.
A search on Britain’s Geology Viewer has indicated that the geology within the scheme extents along the A737 consists of the following:
Bedrock Geology
- Limestone Coal Formation - Sedimentary rock cycles, clackmannan group type. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 329 and 328 million years ago during the Carboniferous period.
Superficial Deposits
- Till, Devensian - Diamicton. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago during the Quaternary period.
- Raised Tidal Flat Deposits, Late Devensian - Gravel, sand and silt. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago during the Quaternary period.
- Alluvium - Clay, silt, sand and gravel. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 11.8 thousand years ago, and the present during the Quaternary period.
As the works will be like-for-like resurfacing of previously engineered layers, it has been determined that the proposed project does not carry the potential to cause direct or indirect impact to geology or soils. As such, impact has been assessed as being ‘no change’ and has been scoped out of requiring further assessment.
Material assets and waste
The proposed scheme does not require a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) as the total value is under £350,000.
Tables 2 and 3 below outline the materials required for the scheme and waste expected to be produced during the works. Tar bound materials were not identified during the investigation coring.
Table 2: Key Materials Required for Construction Activities
Materials required
- TS2010 Surface Course
- AC20 Bituminous Binder
- AC32 Bituminous Base
- Fuels and oil
- Metal road studs
- White lining
Sources
- Resurfacing materials will be derived from recycled, secondary or re-used origin as far as practicable within the design specifications to reduce natural resource depletion and associated emissions.
- Materials will comprise mostly of virgin aggregate.
- 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 sources.
Table 3: Key Waste Arising from Construction Activities
Waste produced
- Asphalt Planings
- Old road studs
Disposal
- Uncontaminated road planings generated as a result of the required 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.
Noise and vibration
There are over 100 residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents, the closest one being approximately 48m north on Kintyre Avenue. There are multiple businesses located within 300m of the works area. Notable noise sensitive receptors include the following:
- Linwood playground, Clippens Road, located 100m north.
- Linwood basketball courts, Clippens Road, located 87m north.
- Linwood football pitches located 149m north.
- Linwood riverside walk located 164m north.
- Scottish Ambulance Service, West located 206m north.
- Ludovic Medical Practice located 265m north.
- Johnstone History Museum located approximately 218m southwest.
- Lancefield Care Home located approximately 300m south.
- Linwood cycle path located approximately 265m south.
The volume of traffic is demonstrated by manual count point 80545, located 1.1km northeast of the scheme. This showed that in 2023, the AADF for all motor vehicles was 59,811 with 2,089 of these being HGVs. This indicates that baseline noise and vibration levels are likely to be predominantly influenced by traffic along A737.
Scotland’s Noise Map has recorded that the noise level (Lday) during daytime hours within the scheme extents ranges from 64dB to 74dB. The noise level (Lngt) during nighttime hours ranges from 61dB to 66dB.
The works do not fall within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) as highlighted by Transport Scotland’s Transportation Noise Action Plan (TNAP) (2019-2023).
Population and human health
Due to the like-for-like nature of the works, an area of 300m has been investigated to determine the population and human health baseline.
The land surrounding the scheme extents is primarily used for housing, community facilities, businesses and recreational areas. The scheme location is urban with over 100 residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents, the closest one being approximately 48m north on Kintyre Avenue. There are multiple businesses located within 300m of the works area. Notable community assets and facilities include the following:
- Linwood playground, Clippens Road, located 100m north of the scheme extents.
- Linwood basketball courts, Clippens Road, located 87m north.
- Linwood football pitches located 149m north.
- Linwood riverside walk located 164m north.
- Scottish Ambulance Service, West located 206m north.
- Ludovic Medical Practice located 265m north.
- Johnstone History Museum located approximately 218m southwest.
- Lancefield Care Home located approximately 300m south.
- Linwood cyclepath located approximately 265m south.
The following National Cycle Network Routes can be found within 300m:
- National Cycle Network Route 7 is located 232m south of the scheme extents. This travels between Sunderland and Inverness, forming part of the famous Sea to Sea (C2C) cycle route.
- National Cycle Network Route 75 is located 59m south and travels over the scheme at NGRs NS 43299 63905. This travels between Sunderland and Inverness, forming parts of the famous Sea to Sea (C2C) cycle route.
The following Core Paths can be found within 300m of the scheme extents:
- Core Path JOHN/9 is located 40m west of the scheme at the closest point.
- Core Pathe NCR/4 is located 50m south of the scheme at the closest point.
- Core Path NCR/10 is located over the scheme extents at NGR NS 43300 63900.
- Core Path LIN/12 is located 95m south of the scheme at the closest point.
- Core Path LIN/13 is located over the scheme extents at NGR NS 43623 63968.
- Core Path LIN/11 is located 34m north of the scheme at the closest point.
There are no bridleways within 300m of the scheme extents. There are also no footpaths, access/egress points to residential properties, Public Rights of Way (PRoW), laybys or any bus stops along the A737, within the scheme extents.
Streetlights border either side of the A737 carriageway within the scheme extents.
Road drainage and the water environment
According to SEPA’s Water Classification Hub, Black Cart Water (ID: 10747) flows adjacent to the scheme extents and flows beneath the scheme at NGRs NS 43813 63982. Old Patrick Water (ID: 10023) is a tributary of the Black Cart Water and flows through the scheme extents at NGR NS 44124 64010. Both watercourses have an overall moderate ecological value.
SEPA’s Flood Risk Map has highlighted that Black Cart Water has a high (10%) likelihood of river flooding where it flows through the scheme extents, within the works area. There are no areas within the scheme extents that are susceptible to surface water flooding.
Groundwater within the scheme extents consists of both Erskine and Linwood Sand and Gravel (ID: 150782), which has an overall good quality, and Linwood groundwater (ID: 150488), which has an overall poor quality.
The works do not fall within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).
Drainage along the A737, within the scheme extents, consists of gullies.
Climate
Carbon Goals
The Climate Change (Scotland) Act sets out the target and vision set by the Scottish Government for tackling and responding to climate change. The Act includes a target of reducing CO2 emissions by 80% before 2050 (from the baseline year 1990).
The Scottish Government has since published its indicative Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to set out how it will instead reach net-zero by 2045, working to reduce emissions of all major greenhouse gases by at least 75% by 2030. By 2040, the Scottish Government is committed to reduce 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, this commitment is being enacted through the Mission Zero for Transport. Transport is the largest contributor to harmful climate emissions in Scotland. In response to the climate emergency, TS are committed to reducing their emissions by 75% by 2030 and to a legally binding target of net-zero by 2045.
Amey’s Company Wide Carbon Goal is to achieve Scope 1 and 2 net-zero carbon emissions, with a minimum of 80% absolute reduction on our emissions by 2035. Amey is aiming to be fully net-zero, including Scope 3 emissions, by 2040.
Amey are working towards a contractual commitment to have carbon neutral depots on the SW NMC network by 2028. Amey have set carbon goals for the SW NMC contract as a whole to be net-zero carbon by 2032.
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.