Assessment of cumulative effects

Although this is the second phase of tree felling works on the carriageway in two years, the works are limited to the A830 road corridor to remove encroaching vegetation from existing forest edges. Extensive areas of woodland remain a dominant habitat feature in the wider area; therefore, the proposed works are not considered to result in significant cumulative impacts on a landscape scale.

A search of the Highland Council Planning Portal (Map Search) did not identify any approved planning applications within 300m of the scheme extents over the last two years. Therefore, due to the nature of the proposed works, no cumulative effects are anticipated with any other developments in the vicinity.

A search of the Scottish Roads Works Commissioner website (Map Search) has identified that no other roadworks are currently ongoing, or noted as being planned, within the area of works at the same time as this scheme. No other large-scale tree felling or vegetation clearance schemes are planned on the A830 in the current financial year.

BEAR Scotland programme all of their proposed works in line with appropriate guidance and contractual requirements. All schemes are programmed to take into account existing and future planned works, with a view of limiting any cumulative effects relating to TM. As a result of this exercise, where a potential for cumulative impacts is identified, BEAR will reprogramme schemes to avoid / limit any cumulative effects or will utilise existing TM to complete multiple schemes at once. This approach allows BEAR Scotland to effectively manage the potential cumulative effects as a result of TM, resulting in minimal disruption to users of the Scottish trunk road network.

Overall, it is unlikely that the proposed works will have a significant cumulative effect with any other future works in the area.