Statement of case in support of a Determination that a statutory EIA is not required

This is a relevant project in terms of section 55A(16) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 as it is a project for the improvement of a road and the completed works (together with any area occupied by apparatus, equipment, machinery, materials, plant, spoil heaps, or other such facilities or stores required during the period of construction) do not exceed 1 hectare in area, however is situated in whole or in part in the Tynaspirit SSSI which is a sensitive area within the meaning of regulation 2(1) of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1999.

The project has been subject to screening using the Annex III criteria to determine whether a formal Environmental Impact Assessment is required under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (as amended by The Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017). Screening using Annex III criteria, reference to consultations undertaken and review of available information has not identified the need for a statutory EIA.

The project will not have significant effects on the environment by virtue of factors such as:

Characteristics of the schemes

• The works are localised to trunk road drainage improvements and repairs to a layby along a 265m section and area of 0.15ha of the A84 trunk road.
• The works will be temporary, localised, and completed during daytime hours.
• No species of conservation importance have been noted during the ECS on 12^th May 2026 within the works disturbance buffers. Works are not expected to result in significant disturbance to protected species that may be present in the wider area.
• The risk of major accidents or disasters is considered to be low.
• Drainage improvements will improve the flooding which is present of the A84 at this section of the road.
• No impacts on the environment are expected during the operational phase as a result of works. The works are expected to result in positive impacts on road users during the operational phase.

Location of the schemes

• The scheme is located within the existing A84 trunk road boundary and as such, no land take is required.
• The scheme is overlapped by Tynaspirit SSSI and GCRS. Consent from NatureScot is not required.
• The scheme holds an ecological connectivity with River Teith SAC which lies 40m south of the scheme. The HRA concluded no LSE would occur on the designated featured of River Teith SAC from the works activities. No further assessment, mitigation measures or consultations are therefore required.
• No features of cultural heritage lie within 300m of the works.

Characteristics of potential impacts of the schemes

• Any potential impacts of the works are expected to be temporary, short-term, non-significant, and limited to the construction phase.
• Measures will be in place to ensure appropriate removal and disposal of waste.
• No impacts on the environment are expected during the operational phase as a result of works. The works are expected to result in positive impacts on road users, ecological and human receptors during the operational phase.
• As the works will be limited to the improvements of the road drainage and the layby there is no change to the vulnerability of the road to the risk or severity of major accidents/disasters that would impact on the environment.
• Works are programmed to be of short duration and undertaken over daytime working programme.
• Mitigation measures detailed above (and in the SEMP) will be put in place with the objective to prevent and, if required, subsequently control any potential impacts on sensitive receptors.