Description of local environment

Air quality

No Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) are located within 10km of the scheme (Air Quality Management Areas).

The nearest Air Quality Monitoring Station (AQMS) to the scheme is located within the town centre of Fort William, approximately 2.4km south of the scheme (Scottish Air Quality). The AQMS monitors levels of ozone and nitrogen dioxide and at the time of the search the levels were recorded as ‘low’.

One site noted on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) (which records air pollutant releases), lies within 10km of the scheme extents. The ‘Liberty Lochaber Aluminium, Lochaber Smelter’ is recorded for production and processing of metals and lies 2.2km southeast of the scheme (Scottish Pollution Release Inventory).

Baseline air quality at the scheme location is likely to be primarily influenced by traffic along the A830 trunk road and Caledonian Canal. Secondary sources are likely derived from day-to-day urban activities. The West Highland Line railway spans the Caledonian Canal 30m south of the scheme. Rail traffic will therefore also have an impact on air quality in the area.

Cultural heritage

There are no Garden & Designed Landscapes, Conservation Areas, Battlefields or World Heritage Sites within 300m of the scheme (PastMap).

Scheduled Monuments

  • The A830 within the scheme extent spans the Scheduled Monument ‘Caledonian Canal, Corpach to Banavie’ (Reference: SM6491).
  • The monument comprises the stretch of inland waterway known as the Caledonian Canal running east and northeast from the locks and basin at Corpach, on Loch Linnhe, to the south (or bottom) end of the flight of locks at Banavie (otherwise known as Neptune's Staircase).
  • The area scheduled includes the canal and the strip of ground extending up to a maximum of 30m from the water on either side and containing the towpaths and embankments and any associated capstans, bollards, mooring hooks, mile posts, weirs and overflows.
  • The scheduling excludes the road swing bridge at Banavie, the railway swing bridge and its associated signal box also at Banavie, as well as all modern moorings, pontoons, slipways, walls and fences, power cables, lampposts and other street furniture.
  • ‘Caledonian Canal, Neptune's Staircase, Canal Locks, Banavie’ (Reference: SM3530) which lies 40m upstream of the bridge.

Listed Buildings

Three Listed Buildings lie within 300m of the scheme. The closest is the Category B ‘Caledonian Canal, Banavie, Swing Railway Bridge Over Caledonian Canal’ (Reference: LB7079), which lies approximately 30m southwest of the scheme.

Of lesser historical significance within 300m:

  • Several Historic Environment Records (HERs) and National Records of the Historic Environment (NRHE). The closest HERs and NRHE relate to the A830 Banavie swing bridge.

Landscape and visual effects

The scheme does not fall within a National Scenic Area (NSA), National Park (NP), National Nature Reserve (NNR) or a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) (SiteLink).

Landscape Character Type for the scheme is listed as ‘Lochs with Settled Edges’ (LCT 234), which has the following key characteristics:

  • Flat landscape contained between steep loch sides and open water.
  • Extensive agriculture and settlement confined within a narrow lochside fringe, whose foreshore is subject to tidal influence.
  • Loch heads and river mouths that permit more extensive farming and built development, including housing and small industrial estates.
  • Communications confined to narrow loch edges where shingly beaches, rocky headlands, wooded banks and marshy platforms form a diverse water's edge.
  • Extensive tracts of oak-birch woodland climbing from the lochside up into the foothills, often engulfing the settled edge and providing an enclosed microlandscape.
  • Dense commercial forests descend to loch shore in some locations.
  • Occasional policy grounds of big houses along the loch edge give rise to a proliferation of rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum) and other ornamentals in some places, providing a lush and sheltered character.
  • Linearly arranged crofting communities with vivid green croft fields contrast with the more subdued duller colours of surrounding hills.

The land use surrounding the scheme is listed as canal features, rough grazing, urban area, industrial or commercial area, rectilinear fields and farms and recreation area (HLA Map).

The scheme lies within Fort William, with land use surrounding the scheme being a mixture of urban development, temperate shrub heathland, cultivated areas of gardens and parks and woodland areas. The Caledonian Canal and the swing bridges form major landscape features within the area.

The Glasgow to Mallaig train line and its associated infrastructure forms a corridor 30m southwest of the scheme. The area in proximity to the scheme is popular with tourists and outdoor recreationists.

The A830 trunk road, within the North West Network Management Contract (NMC), 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 A830 is predominantly single carriageway along its length, with some lengths of ‘2+1’ carriageway. The A830 is a single carriageway within the scheme extent.

Biodiversity

There are no European sites located within 2km of the scheme (SiteLink).

There are no locally or nationally designated sites (i.e. Sites of Special Interest (SSSI), National/Local Nature Reserves) within 300m of the scheme (SiteLink).

The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas holds several records of bird species within 2km of the scheme. 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 records of the invasive non-native species (INNS) Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera). However no records of injurious weeds (as listed in the NMC) under the same search criteria for the scheme.

Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) hold records of the injurious weed common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) in the eastbound verge within the scheme extent.

An area of woodland listed on the Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) as ‘long established (of plantation origin) lies 300m northwest of the scheme (Ancient Woodland Inventory Scotland).

There are no areas of woodland or individual trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) within 300m of the scheme extents (Highland Council).

The A830 Banavie swing bridge spans the Caledonian Canal 1.7km northeast of transitional waters, which provides significant freshwater and partially saline water habitat.

The BEAR Scotland NW Environment Team and commissioned subcontractors have undertaken a range of ecological surveys at the A830 Banavie Swing Bridge and surrounding area over the past several years. In addition, several surveys have been conducted in relation to the low-mowing management of the wildflower verges along the A830 between Blar Mhor Roundabout and Banavie Swing Bridge, with ongoing monitoring of the wildflower meadows by the Lochaber Biodiversity Action Group (LBAG).

No presence of INNS was noted during the ecological surveys.

The road verges along the A830 between Blar Mor Roundabout and Banavie Swing Bridge have been monitored for many years by volunteers from LBAG. A low-frequency mowing regime was implemented in this area at the request of LBAG and has continued for several years. As a result, the verges along this section of the A830 contain higher biodiversity of plant and insect species than frequently-mowed verges, particularly in the areas northwest of the Blar Mor Roundabout.

A site visit between BEAR Scotland and LBAG in 2023 identified that the verges within the scheme extent were not high-quality wildflower meadow habitat compared to sections of the verge closer to the roundabout.

BEAR Scotland undertook a botanical survey in July 2026. Within the scheme extent, the outer verge areas are predominantly composed of neutral grassland habitats (UKHab G3c and G3c5), dominated by false oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius), while the inner verge strip consists of poor-quality amenity grassland (G4), likely as a result of frequent mowing. In addition, a small area of woodland (W1h5) was recorded adjacent to the footway on the northbound side of the carriageway.

Geology and soils

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

The British Geological Survey online mapping tool records that the bedrock geology within the scheme extents is recorded as:

  • Great Glen Fault Zone - Fault-gouge, which is a metamorphic bedrock

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

  • Raised marine beach deposits of Holocene age - Sand and gravel

There is no data of the soil type at the scheme extents (Scotland's Soils).

Soils within the scheme extent are recorded as being ‘Class -2’, as displayed on Scotland’s Peat Map. Class -2 are non-soils and as such there is no peat soil present.

Material assets and waste

The proposed works will entail the installation of a signalised pedestrian crossing, including footpath widening, kerb installation, carriageway resurfacing, road marking upgrades, traffic signs and street lighting upgrades. Materials will consist of:

  • Kerbs
  • Asphalt
  • Concrete
  • Subbase
  • High-density polyethylene (HDPE) ducting
  • Electrical access chambers
  • Electrical access cabinets
  • Lighting columns
  • Armour core cables
  • Sand
  • Tactile paving
  • Traffic signs / signals
  • Steel / passively safe posts.

Wastes are anticipated to be primarily planings from the carriageway and footway surface course, topsoil/soil, bollards, and various street furniture. All road and footway planings will be managed in accordance with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (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 scheme.

Excavated earth material will be reused within the scheme extents with the remaining to be disposed of in a licenced waste facility.

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

Noise and vibration

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

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

LDEN or ‘day, evening, night average noise levels’ are modelled within the scheme extent. Noise levels are recorded as being between 67 and 71dB on the road within proximity to the scheme (ScotGov).

Baseline noise levels are likely to be influenced by traffic travelling along the trunk road and Caledonian Canal. Secondary sources are likely derived from day-to-day urban activities associated with Fort William. Railway traffic on the West Highland Line which spans the Caledonian Canal 30m south of the scheme is also likely to contribute to noise levels in the area.

Population and human health

The scheme lies within Fort William and as such numerous business, community and residential properties lie within 300m of the scheme extents. The nearest of these, Banavie train station, lies 30m south of the scheme and has no screening from the scheme extents. The remaining properties are set back and screened from the scheme by tree belts.

National Cycle Network (NCN) route 78 (NCN) is located within the scheme extent on the westbound shared use path.

Three Core Paths lie within the scheme with the paths running through the scheme extent (Highland Council):

  • ‘Lochybridge to Blar Mhor to Corpach’ (Reference: LO07.29)
  • ‘Fort William to Gairlochy’ (Reference: N/A)
  • ‘Great Glen Way, Corpach Basin – Banavie’ (Reference: LO07.12) route finishes with the B8006 T- junction with the A830

In addition, the Core Path ‘Banavie to Torcastle to Strone by Caledonian Canal and Great Glen Way’ (Reference: LO07.13) lies in immediate proximity to the scheme, with both the west and east footpaths heading north from the bridge designated as part of this route (Highland Council).

‘Neptune's Staircase and the Canal, Banavie’, a walking route listed on WalkHighlands, lies along the banks of the Caledonian Canal within the scheme extents. In addition, ‘Great Glen Way 1: Fort William to Gairlochy’ utilises the paved pedestrian footways lie either side of the carriageway within the scheme extent (WalkHighlands). Alternative pedestrian crossings over the Caledonian Canal are present over the lock gates near Banavie swing bridge.

The area in proximity to the scheme is popular with tourists and outdoor recreationists, with footpaths running along both west and eastbound verges.

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

A Transport Scotland Road Traffic Counter on the A830 B8006 to B8006 - (Blarmor) (Site ID: 000000001070) located approximately 900m east of the scheme at its closest extent recorded in 2025 an average daily traffic (ADT) flow of 9,308 vehicles with 7% of them being heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).

TM will involve lane closures and two-way temporary traffic lights (TTL) and control of junction where required.

Road drainage and the water environment

The scheme falls within the ‘Fort William’ (ID 150696) and ‘Spean and Lochy Sand and Gravel’ (ID 150776) groundwater bodies which were classified by SEPA in 2024 as having an overall status of ‘Good’ and are also Drinking Water Protected Areas (Ground).

The A830 Banavie swing bridge spans Caledonian Canal - Loch Linnhe to Top of Neptune's Staircase, a classified waterbody (ID: 20336) 1.7km upstream of Loch Linnhe, a classified transitional waterbody (ID: 200089) (SEPA). Caledonian Canal - Loch Linnhe to Top of Neptune's Staircase is a canal in the River Lochy catchment of the Scotland river basin district. In 2024, it was assigned an overall status of ‘Good ecological potential’ by SEPA under the Water Framework Directive (WFD).

Numerous minor unclassified waterbodies lie within 300m of the scheme extents.

A search of SEPA Flood Maps records that the banks of the Caledonian Canal at the A830 Banavie swing bridge have a varied risk of fluvial flooding, and as such, these areas have a 0-10% chance of flooding each year (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).