Description of local environment

Air quality

Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) are located within 10km of the scheme (Air Quality Management Areas).

There is one air quality monitoring site located within 10km of the scheme (Scottish Air Quality). The West Dunbartonshire Glasgow Road site recorded NO₂ concentrations corresponding to an air quality index of 1 (Low band) and lies approximately 9.5 km southeast of the scheme at its closest point.

One Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) site which record air pollutant releases, lies within 10km of the scheme (Scottish Pollution Release Inventory). The ‘Barr Environmental, Auchencarroch Landfill, Jamestown’ site manages waste and wastewater and records multiple air pollutants. It is located approximately 5 km southeast of the scheme at its closest point.

Due to the location of the works, baseline air quality is likely to be primarily influenced by traffic travelling along the A82 and local roads; with secondary sources likely shaped by local land management practices.

Cultural heritage

No Scheduled Monuments, Garden and Designed Landscapes, Battlefields, Conservation Areas, or World Heritage sites were identified within 300m of the scheme (PastMap).

The following cultural heritage features are recorded within 300m of the scheme (PastMap):

  • A total of 16 listed buildings are located within 300m of the scheme extent; the closest of which are listed below:
  • Arden House, Lodge with Gatepiers and Boundary Wall (Category B; LB43869) lies approximately 15m from scheme extents and is accessed via Arden Roundabout.
  • Arden House, Gates, and Gatepiers (Category B; LB43868) are located directly adjacent to the A82 and the southbound verge footpath within the scheme extent.
  • Low Bridge (Category B; LB43975) lies within approximately 10m from the scheme at its closest extent.
  • Lomond Castle Estate, Mackie Lodge including Boundary Wall and Gate (Category C; LB43878) is located approximately 80m east of scheme extents.
  • The remaining listed buildings noted within 300m of the scheme are set-back at least 100m from the works
  • Several National Records of the Historic Environment (NRHE) and Historic Environment Records (HER) lie within 300m of the scheme. The closest feature is ‘Dumbarton – Tarbet – Inveraray – Tyndrum Military Road’ (HER, Reference: 22377) of which the scheme lies within.

Landscape and visual effects

The schemes lie within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park (LLTNP, NatureScot Site code: 8621) which has the following special general 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 A82 North of Arden Rdbt scheme extents also lies within Loch Lomond National Scenic Area (NSA, NatureScot Site code: 9135) with has the following special general 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 does not lie within a National Nature Reserve (NNR) or a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) (SiteLink).

Landscape Character Type (LCT) for the schemes is listed as LCT No. 263 - Lowland Loch Basin - Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, which has the following key characteristics:

  • Expansive loch basin rising to steep-sided hills and mountains to the east and west, and a low ridge to the south.
  • Rivers flowing into the loch and their floodplains, with associated gently undulating valley sides, forming an integral part of the basin.
  • Indented shores and some pronounced broad promontories on the west coinciding with alluvial fans from water courses flowing into the loch.
  • Shoreline of rocky promontories and sand or pebble beach.
  • Many wooded islands in the Loch appear to coalesce with shoreline promontories, breaking down the expanse of water visible in loch or shore views to form narrow straits and more intimately scaled areas of water.
  • Extensive native oak dominated woodlands fringing the eastern side of the loch and wisps of birch threading up through narrow gullies which cut deeply into bracken/rough grass covered hill slopes.
  • Well-settled loch margins with tourism and recreation developments such as chalet parks, golf courses, and hotels, some accommodated in former estates.
  • A number of small planned estate-influenced settlements on the shores of the Loch and the southern Luss small planned estate village. The settlement of Balloch has a more urban character.
  • Loch shores a focus for estates and their designed landscapes with mixed policy woodlands and parkland contributing to the diversity of the loch basin. Twisting dead end road providing access on the east side of the loch, contrasting with the heavily trafficked A82 aligned close to western side of the loch. Views from these roads to the Loch often restricted by shoreline vegetation. Tourist facilities located close to these routes.
  • Boating activities including sailing, canoeing, kayaking, and power boats and other sport activities such as jet skis on Loch Lomond. Ferries are a feature of the water bodies.
  • Highly scenic landscape composition of island, water, and indented shoreline, especially when viewed from surrounding hills and the south of the loch.

The land use surrounding the scheme is listed as Urban Areas, Rectilinear Fields and Farms, Designated Landscape, Golf Course, Motorway and Major Roads, Managed woodlands, Golf Course and Freshwater Area (HLA Map).

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 scheme takes place on a section of single carriageway.

Biodiversity

The Loch Lomond Woods Special Area of Conservation (SAC) (NatureScot Site Code: 8298) and Loch Lomond Ramsar (NatureScot Site Code: 8437) lie approximately 5.3km northeast of the A82 South of Arden Rdbt and 4.7km northeast of the A82 North of Arden Rdbt.

The Loch Lomond Special Protection Area (SPA) (NatureScot Site Code: 8531) lies at its closest point 6.1km north east of the A82 South of Arden Rdbt and 4.8km north of the A82 North of Arden Rdbt.

There are no locally or nationally designated sites for biodiversity such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), National Nature Reserves (NNR) or Local Nature Reserves (LNR) located within 300m of the schemes (SiteLink).

The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas holds several records of bird species within 2km of the schemes. The search criteria included only records during the past ten years, and which have open-use attributions (OGL-CC0-CC-BY). Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), all wild birds and their active nests are protected, with certain species receiving additional protections.

The NBN Atlas holds following injurious weeds and/or invasive plants (as listed in the Network Management Contract (NMC)) under the same search criteria for both schemes:

  • Japanese knotweed (Renoutria japonica)

Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) holds no records of injurious weeds and/or invasive plants (as listed in the NMC) within 300m of the scheme.

Habitat in the surrounding area is predominantly farmland, woodland, and recreational land (i.e. golf courses), with freshwater habitat provided by Loch Lomond which is connected to the scheme by the Fruin Water way which is spanned by the A82 within the North of Arden Rdbt scheme extent.

Three area of woodland listed as ‘ancient (of seminatural origin)’ on the Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) lies within 300m of the scheme extents; the closest of which, ‘Wood ID: 26779’, lies adjacent to the A82 South of Arden Rdbt scheme extent.

There is one Tree Preservation Order (TPO) designated by the LLTNP Authority within 300m of the schemes (TPO). TPO Ref: 2022/0001/TPO - Arden House, Arden’ lies directly adjacent (within 10m) to the southbound (SB) exit of Arden roundabout and encompasses numerous trees.

BEAR Scotland undertook an ecological constraints survey (ECS) on 2nd June 2026, encompassing the Fruin Water way and the embankments surrounding the bridge within the A82 North of Arden Rdbt Scheme extent. This area was prioritised due to the heightened ecological sensitivity of the Fruin Water crossing, which may provide connectivity to the Loch Lomond Woods SAC.

Geology and soils

There are no Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRSs) or Geological SSSIs located within 300m of the scheme (SiteLink).

The British Geological Survey (BGS) online mapping tool records that the bedrock geology within the schemes extents is recorded as:

  • Inchmurrin Conglomerate Member - Conglomerate.
  • Cromlix Mudstone Formation - Mudstone. 
  • Rosneath Conglomerate Formation - Conglomerate.
  • Inverclyde Group - Sandstone with subordinate argillaceous rocks and limestone. 
  • Highland Border Complex - Serpentinite. 

The BGS mapping tool records the following superficial deposits within the scheme extents:

  • Glaciofluvial sheet deposits - Sand and gravel.
  • Alluvial fan deposits - Sand and gravel.
  • Alluvium - Clay, silt, sand, and gravel. 

Soils within the schemes are recorded as humus-iron podzols from fluvioglacial and raised beach sands and gravels derived from acid rocks (Scotland's Soils).

Soils within the scheme extents are recorded as being ‘Class 0’ as displayed on Scotland’s Peat Map. Class 0 are mineral soils where peat is not typically found.

Material assets and waste

The proposed works will entail the resurfacing of the A82 carriageway and road markings with material used to consist of:

  • Asphaltic material
  • Bituminous emulsion bond coat
  • Milled in road studs
  • Thermoplastic road marking paint

Wastes are anticipated to be primarily planings from the carriageway surface course. All road planings will be managed in accordance with the SEPA Position Statement WAS-PS-07 (Low Risk Waste Activity (LRWA 3) and recycled in line with SEPA Guidance WAS-G-DEF-05 on End-of-Waste for Recycled Aggregates. The Contractor will be responsible for ensuring full compliance with these requirements. Coal tar has not been highlighted as being present within the schemes.

The value for each site exceeds £350,000; therefore, a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is required for both sites.

Noise and vibration

The works do not fall within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) as defined by the Transportation Noise Action Plan 2024-2028 (TNAP).

Lden or ‘day, evening, night average noise levels’ are modelled within the scheme extent. Noise levels are recorded as being between 64 and 80dB on the road (ScotGov).

Baseline noise and vibration in the study area is mainly influenced by traffic travelling along the A82 and local roads; with secondary sources likely shaped by local land management practices.

Population and human health

The schemes lie along the western bank of Loch Lomond, directly adjacent to a golf course, Arden and Lomond Castle estates, which all have several residential and holiday properties within 300m of the scheme extent. The closest property to the scheme extent is ‘Castle steadings,’ which lies within 5m of the A82 South of Arden Rdbt scheme extent and has limited visual and acoustic screening.

Access arrangements are present throughout both scheme extents, including multiple property roads and field access gates. SB laybys are present within both scheme extents with a northbound (NB) layby also present within the South of Arden Rdbt scheme extent.

Non‑motorised user (NMU) facilities are present across the scheme extent, with a footpath running adjacent to the SB carriageway along the majority of scheme extents. Additionally, the two laybys located NB and SB within the South of Arden Roundabout scheme extent include bus shelters.

In terms of wider NMU connectivity, no National Cycle Network (NCN) routes or walking routes listed on WalkHighlands are within 300m of the scheme extents. However, one LLTNP Core Path (LLTNP); ‘RCR40’ runs alongside the A82 utilising the aforementioned footpath. Additionally core path (S0796) lies approximately 80m east of the scheme extents.

A Transport Scotland Road Traffic Counter on the A82 Loch Lomond (Site ID: 108260) located approximately 2km north of the scheme at its closest extent recorded an Average Daily Traffic (ADT) flow in 2025 of 17,675 vehicles with 6.6% of them being Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

According to the Scottish Road Works Commissioner there are no other works scheduled within 300m of the scheme (Scottish Road Works Commissioner).

TM will involve 2-way TTLs and convoy during working hours (19:00-06:00).

Road drainage and the water environment

The schemes fall within the ‘Loch Lomond and Leven Sand and Gravel’ (ID 150766) and ‘Balloch’ (ID 150651) groundwater bodies which were classified by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in 2024 as having an overall status of ‘good’ and are also recorded as Drinking Water Protected Areas (Ground) (DWPA).

Loch Lomond (South) (ID: 100257), is in the River Leven (Loch Lomond) catchment of the Scotland river basin district. It is approximately 51.6km2  in area and lies approximately 100m east of the scheme at its closest point. In 2024, it was assigned an overall status of ‘moderate ecological potential’ by SEPA under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) (SEPA).

Fruin Water (ID: 10158) lies within the River Leven (Loch Lomond) catchment of the Scotland river basin district. The main stem is approximately 21.1km in length and is spanned by the A82 within the North of Arden Rdbt scheme extents. In 2024, it was assigned an overall status of ‘moderate ecological’ by SEPA under the WFD (SEPA).

The schemes fall within an area that has a high likelihood (i.e. 10% chance) of flooding each year from river or surface water and small watercourses (SEPA Flood Map).

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).