Description of local environment
Air quality
Baseline air quality levels are likely to be influenced by vehicle traffic from the A82 carriageway and the surrounding residential/industrial activities. The Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) in 2024 for the A82 carriageway, within the scheme extents (estimated count point ID: 40766), accounted for 49,457 vehicles, with 1,680 of these being Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).
Approximately 160 residential properties have been identified within 200m of the scheme extents with the closest located 60m south on Eriskay Place. Non-residential air quality sensitive receptors have also been identified within 200m of the scheme extents including Gavinburn Primary School (75m south), Roman Crescent Playpark (160m south), Old Kilpatrick Parish Church (165m south), Old Kilpatrick Bowling Club and Playpark (120m south) and Old Dalnottar Cemetery (20m east).
West Dunbartonshire Council has not declared any Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs). No real-time air quality monitoring stations are present within 200m of the scheme extents.
The Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) has not identified any polluting facilities within 1km of the scheme extents.
Diversion routes are of a similar nature to the proposed area of works, in that they traverse residential areas within the town of Old Kilpatrick.
Cultural heritage
The Scotland’s Environment Mapping resource has been utilised to ascertain the designated and undesignated culturally significant assets within proximity to the scheme extents (see Tables 1 and 2 below). Designated assets have been determined using a buffer of 300m, whilst undesignated assets have been determined using a buffer of 100m. Where a designation is duplicated, only the highest level of classification has been listed below.
| Name and Designation | Reference Number | Description | Distance from Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antonine Wall World Heritage Site Buffer Zone. | WHB1 | World Heritage Site (buffer zone). | Within scheme extents. |
| World Heritage Sites: Antonine Wall World Heritage Site Boundary. | WH1 | World Heritage Site. | 15m north and south. |
| Mount Pleasant Drive, Old Kilpatrick. | CA354 | Conservation Area. | 15m south. |
| Antonine Wall, Railway to Great Western Road, Old Kilpatrick. | SM7067 | Scheduled Monument. | 20m south. |
| Antonine Wall, Great Western Road to Mount Pleasant, Old Kilpatrick. | SM7067 | Scheduled Monument. | 25m north. |
| Gavinburn Farm, Great Western Road, Old Kilpatrick. | LB50228 | Category C Listed Building. | 35m north. |
| Antonine Wall, Mount Pleasant, 190m WSW to 215m SE of Netherclose. | SM7064 | Scheduled Monument. | 38m north. |
| Forth and Clyde Canal: Old Kilpatrick - Linnvale. | SM6778 | Scheduled Monument. | 175m south. |
| Lusset Road, Old Kilpatrick. | CA355 | Conservation Area. | 178m south |
| Old Kilpatrick Parish Church, Dumbarton Road, Old Kilpatrick. | LB14404 | Category B Listed Building. | 180m south. |
| Churchyard, Old Kilpatrick Parish Church, Dumbarton Road. | LB14404 | Category B Listed Building. | 185m south. |
| K8 Telephone Call Box to north side of Erskine Bridge. | LB52508 | Category B Listed Building. | 198m south. |
| Antonine Wall, N of North Dalnottar Cemetery. | SM7066 | Scheduled Monument. | 200m north. |
| Erskine Bridge. | LB52482 | Category A Listed Building. | 200m south. |
| Lusset House, Lusset Road, Old Kilpatrick. | LB18987 | Category B Listed Building. | 215m south. |
| K8 Telephone Call Box to south side of Erskine Bridge. | LB52508 | Category B Listed Building. | 236m south. |
| Antonine Wall and fort, Gavinburn Bus Depot, Old Kilpatrick. | SM7673 | Scheduled Monument. | 290m south. |
Landscape and visual effects
Due to the area surrounding the scheme consisting of residential areas within the town of Old Kilpatrick, multiple residential and non-residential properties have been identified within 300m of the works area and are expected to have sight of the scheme extents. Sporadic, dense vegetation is present in areas and the general topography will block views in places however, visual receptors are still anticipated to have sight of the A82 carriageway within the area of works. West Dunbartonshire Council Core Paths ‘Erskine Bridge’ (path ID: 139), Lusset Glen (path ID: 129) and two unnamed paths (path IDs 133 and 99) have been identified as having the potential to have sight of the scheme extents.
No National Scenic Areas (NSAs) or Garden Designed Landscapes have been identified within 500m of the scheme extents (Scotland’s Environment Mapping Resource).
Scotland’s Landscape Character Type Map lists the landscape character type present within the scheme extents to be ‘Rugged Moorland Hills’. Scotland’s Historic Land-Use Map lists the land surrounding the scheme extents as a mixture of urban, rectilinear farms and fields and industrial/commercial.
Trees within the land to the immediate north of the scheme fall under Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) (site IDs: CDC5 and DDC2). No other TPOs have been identified within 300m of the scheme extents.
Diversion routes are of a similar nature to the proposed area of works, in that they traverse residential areas within the town of Old Kilpatrick.
Biodiversity
The A82 carriageway verge within the scheme extents contains areas of low-lying vegetation and in smaller areas, dense vegetation, separating the carriageway from residential areas within the town of Old Kilpatrick. Scotland’s Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) has identified three areas of ancient woodland within 500m of the scheme extents:
- Unnamed Ancient (of semi-natural origin) woodland (site ID: 19), approx. 90m north;
- Unnamed Long-Established (of plantation origin) woodland (site ID: 41), approx. 200m south; and
- Unnamed Ancient (of semi-natural origin) woodland (site ID: 18), approx. 240m north.
The Inner Clyde Ramsar and Special Protection Area (SPA) designated sites of ecological importance have been identified approximately 315m south of the scheme extents (NatureScot’s Sitelink).
Due to the potential for likely significant effects on these designated European sites and their qualifying feature, a Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) has been undertaken for the scheme.
No other nationally designated sites (such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or Local Nature Reserves) have been identified within 200m of the scheme extents however, the aforementioned Inner Clyde Ramsar and SPA is also a SSSI site by the same title.
The NBN Atlas resource has identified the presence of Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) within 500m of the scheme extents including Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) and rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum). This resource has also identified the presence of Transport Scotland (TS) Target Species within this parameter including creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense), rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium), spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare) and broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius). The Amey Environment SW INNS Map resource has not recorded the presence of any INNS within 500m of the scheme extents, however, has identified the presence of TS Target Species rosebay willowherb, creeping thistle and common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) within the verges adjacent to the scheme extents.
The scheme and the surrounding habitat have been reviewed by a senior ecologist utilising desktop resource, and, in turn, a site visit was scoped out. The transient nature of the works combined with the requirement of the works to be contained within the pavement boundary has allowed for this conclusion.
Geology and soils
The scheme is not located within 200m of any Geological Conservation Review sites (GCRs), or SSSIs designated for their geological significance (NatureScot’s Sitelink).
The National Soil Map of Scotland holds no information regarding the soil present within the scheme extents and the Land Classification for Agriculture, due to the area’s urban nature suggesting immature soils.
- Cochno Lava Member - Basaltic-rock, plagioclase-microphyric. Igneous bedrock formed between 344.5 and 330.9 million years ago during the Carboniferous period (western extents).
- Strathgryfe Lava Member - Basaltic-rock, plagioclase-macrophyric. Igneous bedrock formed between 344.5 and 330.9 million years ago during the Carboniferous period (eastern extents).
- Till, Devensian - Diamicton. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago during the Quaternary period (western extents).
- Raised Marine Beach Deposits, Late Devensian - Sand and gravel. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago during the Quaternary period (eastern extents).
As a result of the works taking place strictly on made ground within the A82 carriageway boundary, it has been determined that the 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 works are required to resurface the worn carriageway and reinstate road markings and studs. Materials used will consist of:
- Bituminous surfacing (TS2010, AC20 binder and AC32 base);
- Road marking materials (thermoplastic road marking paint) and studs;
- Vehicle fuel;
- Oil; and
Wastes are anticipated to be planings from the carriageway surface course, with no coal tar recorded from coring logs within scheme extents. The Contractor is responsible for the disposal/recycling of road planings, and this will be registered in accordance with a Paragraph 13(a) waste exemption issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), as described in Schedule 3 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 2011.
This scheme value is not in excess of £350k and therefore a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is not required to be produced.
Noise and vibration
Baseline air quality levels are likely to be influenced by vehicle traffic from the A82 carriageway and the surrounding residential/industrial activities. The AADF in 2024 for the A82 carriageway, within the scheme extents (estimated count point ID: 40766), accounted for 49,457 vehicles, with 1,680 of these being HGVs.
Over 250 residential properties have been identified within 300m of the scheme extents with the closest located 60m south on Eriskay Place. Non-residential noise sensitive receptors have also been identified within 300m of the scheme extents including Gavinburn Primary School (75m south), Roman Crescent Playpark (160m south), Old Kilpartick Parish Church (165m south), Old Kilpatrick Bowling Club and Playpark (120m south) and Old Dalnottar Cemetery (20m east).
Scotland’s Noise Map has indicated modelled day-evening-night noise levels (Lden) in the areas surrounding the carriageway to be around 65-75 dB within 70m. Night-time noise levels (Lnight) surrounding the carriageway show levels of 50-65 dB within 70m. The scheme is not located within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) as defined within the Transportation Noise Action Plan.
The proposed diversion routes travel through areas of a similar nature to the proposed area of works, including residential areas within the town of Old Kilpatrick.
Population and human health
The A82 carriageway within the scheme extents is located within the town of Old Kilpatrick, West Dunbartonshire. This section of the A82 carriageway links smaller towns such as Old Kilpatrick and Dumbarton with the city of Glasgow. Whilst these smaller towns play host to amenities and facilities such as educational facilities, medical facilities and care facilities, a greater abundance and complexity of these facilities can be found in the city of Glasgow.
Over 250 residential properties have been identified within 300m of the scheme extents with the closest located 60m south on Eriskay Place. Community facilities and assets of note identified within 300m of the scheme extents include Gavinburn Primary School (75m south), Roman Crescent Playpark (160m south), Old Kilpartick Parish Church (165m south), Old Kilpatrick Bowling Club and Playpark (120m south) and Old Dalnottar Cemetery (20m east).
The A82 carriageway within the scheme extents is street-lit, contains footways and off-slips for the Erskine Bridge and Old Kilpatrick combined with on-slips for those entering the A82 carriageway from Old Kilpatrick. No bus stops or laybys are present within the scheme extents. No single access points to properties (including agricultural land) are present within the scheme extents.
West Dunbartonshire Council Core Paths ‘Erskine Bridge’ (path ID: 139), ‘Lusset Glen’ (path ID: 129) and two unnamed paths (path IDs 133 and 99) have been identified within 300m of the scheme extents. No National Cycle Network (NCN) routes have been identified within 300m of the scheme extents.
Diversion routes are of a similar nature to the proposed area of works, in that they traverse residential areas within the town of Old Kilpatrick.
Road drainage and the water environment
SEPA’s Water Classification Hub has identified the Forth and Clyde Canal (site IDs: 10710 and 10709), classified under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) as being in ‘Good’ condition, approx. 200m south of the scheme extents. This resource has also identified the Clyde Estuary (site IDs: 200510 and 200320), classified under the WFD as being in ‘Moderate’ condition, approx. 320m south of the scheme extents. Multiple field and road drains are also present beneath and running parallel to the A82 carriageway within the scheme extents.
SEPA’s Water Classification Hub has identified the groundwater conditions within the scheme extents (entitled ‘Clydebank Sand and Gravel’, site ID: 150775) as being in ‘Good’ condition.
SEPA’s Flood Map has identified areas towards the western extent of the scheme to be at a ‘High’ (approx. 10% each year) risk of surface water flooding. No areas of the A82 carriageway within the scheme extents are at risk of river water flooding according to this resource.
The A82 carriageway within the scheme extents is drained via top-entry gullies and is not within a Scottish Government Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).
Climate
Carbon Goals
The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, as amended by the Scottish Carbon Budgets Amendment Regulations 2025 sets out the statutory framework for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Scotland. The prior annual and interim targets have been replaced by five-year carbon budgets, which sets limits on the amount of GHGs that can be emitted in Scotland.
The proposed carbon budgets are aligned with advice from the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) and calculated in accordance with the 2009 Act. The 2025 Regulations define the baseline years for emissions reductions as 1990 for GHGs including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, and 1995 for others such as hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulphur hexafluoride (as set out in Section 11 of the Act). The budgets are as follows:
- 2026 - 2030: Average emissions to be 57% lower than baseline.
- 2031 - 2035: Average emissions to be 69% lower than baseline.
- 2036 - 2040: Average emissions to be 80% lower than baseline
- 2041 - 2045: Average emissions to be 94% lower than baseline.
These budgets are legally binding and will be supported by a new Climate Change Plan, which will outline the specific policies and actions required to meet the targets.
Transport Scotland remains 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, and Transport Scotland 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 South West Network Management Contract (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.