Description of local environment

Air quality

For baseline air quality information regarding residential, community and commercial receptors in the area, refer to ‘Population and Human Health’ section below.

A search of the Air Quality in Scotland online mapping tool records that the scheme extent is not located within or within 300m of an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).

No Air Quality Monitoring Stations (AQMS) are located within 10km of the scheme extent (Air quality in Scotland). The nearest air quality monitoring site lies in Crieff approximately 47km east of the scheme extents, with the levels at the time of assessment noted to be ‘low’ (Low Index 1-3).

There are no sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) located within 10km of the scheme extents.

Baseline air quality is likely to be primarily influenced by traffic along the A82, A85 and local road network. Secondary sources are derived from forestry activities and urban activities associated with Crianlarich.

Cultural heritage

A search of the PastMap mapping tool (PastMap) identified the following Listed Buildings within 300m of the scheme:

  • Category C ‘Crianlarich, Crianlarich Station, Engine Shed’ (ID: LB50319) lies 80m east of the scheme.
  • Category C ‘C’rianlarich, War Memorial’ (ID: LB50321) lies 180m east of the scheme.
  • Category B ‘Crianlarich, Crianlarich Parish Church (Church of Scotland) Including Gatepiers and Boundary Walls’ (ID: LB50318) lies 190m east of the scheme.

Of lesser Cultural Heritage value, a number of Historic Environment Records (HERs) and National Records of the Historic Environment (NRHE) lie within 300m of the scheme extents. The nearest of these are HERs of archaeological surveys (IDs: 5550 & 4591) which fall within the scheme extents. The nearest NRHE is ‘Rubbish Pit(s) (19th Century) - (20th Century)’ (ID: 348594) and lies within the scheme extents.

There are no World Heritage Sites, Scheduled Monuments, Conservation Areas, Garden and Designed Landscapes or Battlefields within 300m of the scheme extents.

The works comprise vegetation maintenance along the A82 Crianlarich Bypass and associated SUDS features. Cultural heritage features of significance are located at a sufficient distance from the scheme and are not accessible from the works area. It is considered that the construction of the A82 Crianlarich Bypass has likely removed any archaeological remains that may have been present within the footprint of the scheme. As no new ground excavations are required, cultural heritage has been scoped out of further assessment and is not discussed further within this RoD.

Landscape and visual effects

The scheme is located within Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park (LLTNP) (NatureScot Site Code: 8621). The LLTNP has the following general special qualities:

  • A world-renowned landscape famed for its rural beauty
  • Wild and rugged highlands contrasting with pastoral lowlands
  • Water in its many forms
  • The rich variety of woodlands
  • Settlements nestled within a vast natural backdrop
  • Famous through-routes
  • Tranquillity
  • The easily accessible landscape splendour

The scheme is not located within a National Scenic Area (NSA) or any other site designated for its landscape and visual character (SiteLink).

The scheme is located in proximity to Crianlarich with land use surrounding the scheme dominated by conifer plantation. Urban development associated with Crianlarich is located to the east of the scheme.

The Landscape Character Type (LCT) within the study area is ‘Upland Glens - Loch Lomond & the Trossachs’ (no. 252) and ‘Straths and Glens’ (no. 253) (Scottish Landscape Character Types).

Upland Glens - Loch Lomond & the Trossachs LCT has the following key characteristics:

  • Often narrow with little flat glen floor, strongly enclosed by steep hill slopes of the adjacent Steep Ridges and Hills and Highland Summits.
  • Steep glen sides often patterned with rocky outcrops, boulders and screes but also extensively forested, particularly on lower slopes.
  • Tributary burns and rivers cut deep gullies into slopes and many feature waterfalls and cascades, pools and rocky outcrops.
  • Walled pastures sometimes occasionally occurring on lower (usually south-facing) slopes. Heather covers better drained areas and bright green flushes appear at spring lines on hill slopes.
  • Some glens covered with extensive coniferous forestry.
  • Notable ancient and semi-ancient woodlands of oak and birch in some glens, Natural regeneration of scrub woodland where grazing has declined as in the Luss Glens.
  • Relict wood pasture and Caledonian pine woodlands evident in some areas,
  • Scattered trees and native woodland trace the edges of burns.
  • Sparsely settled but with some isolated farms in lower reaches of glens, these often south-facing.
  • Significant cultural features in more open glens, including shielings and abandoned field systems.
  • Areas of crofting evident on some lower slopes.
  • Some important historic strategic routes for communications and accommodate key road and rail links today for example.
  • Classic views channelled up and down the Glens, with steep side slopes framing landscapes that lie beyond them.

Straths and Glens LCT has the following key characteristics:

  • Broad u-shaped glens and straths with wide flat floodplains.
  • Lower side slopes often rolling and complex with hummocky moraine and rocky outcrops.
  • Many glen and strath sides are forested, predominantly with spruce, on upper slopes. Some of these forests occasionally extend across strath and glen floors. Scattered trees and remnants of native woodland are found along the edges of burns.
  • Rivers are prominent in open floodplains, often contained by flood barriers and levees. Less modified stretches of river feature pools, gravel beds and waterfalls.
  • Riparian woodlands trace the course of rivers and their tributaries.
  • Better drained strath and glen floors are farmed with improved pastures. Occasional small regular-shaped plantations and shelter belts pattern hill slopes and valley floors.
  • Mixed policy woodlands and avenues of trees line access tracks in places.
  • Settlements and farms are located on lower side slopes, raised above the floodplain, and often tucked between knolls. Settlements tend to be sited at bridging points or at the junction with side glens.
  • Road and rail transport corridors follow the edges of strath and glen floors.
  • Pylons and low voltage overhead power lines are highly visible features across open glen floors.
  • Open strath and glen floors allow views along and across the traditional farmed landscapes, attractive river landscapes and lochs, as well as the dramatic Highland setting of the surrounding rugged slopes and mountain summits.

The A82 Trunk Road, within the North West, connects Alexandria with Crianlarich, Fort William and Inverness. It commences immediately north of Tullichewan Roundabout in Alexandria leading generally northwards for a distance of 243 kilometres to its junction with the A9 at (but excluding) Longman Roundabout in Inverness. The A82 is predominantly single carriageway along its length, with some lengths of ‘2+1’ carriageway. The A9 is a single carriageway at the works location.

Biodiversity

The River Tay Special Area of Conservation (SAC; NatureScot Site Code: 8366) is located 100m north of the scheme extents at its nearest point (SiteLink).

Given the proximity of the works to the SAC, the potential for likely significant effects (LSE) on the SAC was identified at the screening stage. Accordingly, a Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) was completed to assess the potential impacts of the proposed works on the designated features of the SAC.

No other locally or nationally designated sites with biodiversity features (such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Local Nature Reserves or National Nature Reserves) are located within 300m of the scheme (SiteLink).

The NBN Atlas does not hold records of injurious and invasive species of plants (as listed in the Network Management Contract (NMC)) by using the same search criteria.

Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) identified one record of rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium), an injurious weed, within the verges of the A82 at the scheme extents.

The habitat in proximity to the scheme is dominated by conifer plantation. Some freshwater habitat is provided by minor tributaries within the area and the River Fillan which lies 220m north of the works.

There are no areas of ancient woodland within 300m of the scheme extents (Ancient Woodland Inventory).

There are no areas of trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) within 300m of the scheme (LLTNP TPO) (Stirling Council TPO).

A site survey was undertaken on 7 October 2025.

Geology and soils

The scheme is not located within or within 300m of a Geological Conservation Review Site (GCRS) or SSSI designated for geological features (SiteLink).

Bedrock within the scheme extents is primarily classified as Ben Ledi Grit Formation (psammite and semipelite), with superficial deposits of Till and Morainic Deposits (Diamicton, sand and gravel) (British Geology Viewer).

Soils within the scheme extents are classified as mineral podzols and peaty podzols (Scotland’s Soils).

Soils within the scheme extent are recorded as being ‘Class 0’, ‘Class 2’ and ‘Class 3’, as displayed on Scotland’s Peat Map. Class 0 is considered to be mineral soil with no peat present, Class 2 and Class 5 are peat soils with peat present (Scotland’s Environment Map).

Material assets and waste

The vegetation management works will utilise the following machinery and materials:

  • Fastrac with mulching head
  • Chainsaws
  • Pole saws
  • Robocut with mulching head
  • Woodchipper fuel
  • Oil for machines

Waste arisings from the works will consist of timber, which will be retained on site in biodiversity piles or chipped for reuse within the scheme extents. Where on-site disposal is not feasible, arisings will be removed and taken to a licensed waste facility for appropriate reuse or recycling.

The value of the scheme does not exceed £350,000; therefore, a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is not required.

A site compound is not required. Access will be taken from the A82 within the traffic management (TM). Storage of machinery will be within the TM.

Noise and vibration

For residential, community and commercial receptors, refer to the ‘Population and Human Health’ section below.

Works are not located within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA).

Noise modelled data from Environmental Noise Directive (END) Round 4 Noise Mapping indicates 24 hour annual average noise levels (Lden) between 65 and 70dB on the A82 at the scheme location (SpatialData).

The nearest vehicle traffic counter to the scheme (Site name: 108370 A82 Crianlarich (Core 903) lies approximately 2km north of the scheme. An Average Daily Traffic (ADT) was taken in 2024 which counted 6,828 motor vehicles, with 11% of these being Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

The baseline noise and vibration in the scheme extents is primarily influenced by vehicles travelling along the A82, A85 and local road network. Secondary sources are derived from forestry activities and urban activities associated with Crianlarich.

Population and human health

Approximately 70 properties lie within the 300m of the scheme extents. These consist of residential dwelling, business premises and community facilities, such as schools, post office and halls. Properties nearest to the scheme lie 10m from the works and have a level of screening provided by wooden flat fencing.

Two roundabouts lie on the A82 within the scheme extents. These provide access to A85, local roads and nearby properties.

Paved pedestrian footpaths and their associated crossing points lie along the A82 in proximity to both roundabouts.

A section of pedestrian footpaths lies adjacent to the A82 southbound carriageway at the scheme’s northern extents.

There are no routes listed on WalkHighlands or any National Cycle Network Routes (Walk Wheel Cycle Trust) within, or with connectivity to, the scheme.

One Core Path (ID: S0449) is spanned by the A82 within the scheme extents (LLTNP Core Paths).

TM will involve single lane closure with two-way temporary traffic lights or verge working where possible.

Road drainage and the water environment

The River Fillan (ID: 6504) lies 220m north of the scheme at its nearest point to the scheme. The River Fillan is classified waterbody by Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) (SEPA Water Classification Hub) and was rated as “Moderate” by SEPA in 2023 (SEPA).

A number of unnamed tributaries (unclassified), drainage ditches and ponds lie within and/or within 300m of the scheme. 

The scheme lies within the ‘Killin, Aberfeldy and Angus Glens’ groundwater basin, which has been classified as “Good” by SEPA in 2023 and listed as ground Drinking Water Protected Areas (DWPAs).

The SEPA indicative surface water online flood mapping tool records areas on the A82 within the scheme extents as having medium to high likelihood of surface water and small watercourses flooding (e.g., each year this area has 0.5% to 10% likelihood of flooding).

Climate

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 (‘The Act’), and its subsequent amendment under the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019, sets the framework for the Scottish Government to address climate change. The Act has an ambitious target to reach Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, with any residual emissions balanced by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This is five years earlier than the rest of the UK due to the greater potential for carbon sequestration in Scotland.

The Act was amended to replace interim targets with carbon budgets. Carbon budgets are legally binding caps on greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland over five-year periods. In line with the Act, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) published advice on the level of Scotland’s four carbon budgets, covering the period 2026 to 2045, recommending what the Scottish Government sets its carbon budgets at for annual average levels of emissions. These recommendations are based on an ambitious but credible route to Net Zero for Scotland by 2045.

Emissions reductions from surface transport are the largest contribution to meeting the first two carbon budgets. The pathway for surface transport emission reduction is primarily driven by the uptake of electric vehicles, in addition to measures to enable a shift from car use to public transport and active travel, which all play a role in reducing emissions from fossil fuel cars. Ensuring efficiency of existing transport infrastructure and improving/providing new active travel facilities is therefore important to support these carbon reduction budgets.

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 the above noted legally binding target of net-zero by 2045. 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).