Description of local environment

Air quality

The schemes do not fall within any Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) (Air Quality Scotland) declared by Stirling Council.

There is no Air Quality Monitoring Station within 10km of scheme extents (Air Quality Scotland).

No sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) (Scotland’s Environment) for air pollutant releases are located within 10km of the works.

Baseline air quality at the scheme location is likely to be primarily influenced by traffic along the A85 trunk road and rail movement on the nearby railway line, with secondary sources likely to arise from agricultural practices and day to day activity within the settlement of Crianlarich. As the scheme is located within a relatively rural setting, pollution levels are not expected to be high.

Cultural heritage

A search of PastMap mapping tool (PastMap) identified the following designated cultural heritage features within 300m of the scheme:

Two Listed Buildings:

  • ‘Crianlarich Parish Church’, is a Category B listed building located approximately 40m south of scheme extents at its closest point.
  • ‘Crianlarich War Memorial’, is a Category C listed building located directly adjacent to scheme extents at its closest point.

There are no Scheduled Monuments, Conservation Areas, Garden & Designed Landscapes, Battlefields, or World Heritage Sites within 300m of the works.

Of lesser cultural heritage value, numerous Historic Environment Records (HER) and National Records of the Historic Environment (NHRE) lie within 300m of the scheme extents, with several overlapping with the scheme extents.

Landscape and visual effects

The scheme extents are not located within any National Scenic Area (NSA). However, the scheme is located entirely within the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park (LLTNP) (SiteLink). The National Park is noted for the following 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

Land use surrounding the schemes is dominated by residential and commercial properties associated with the village of Crianlarich. Large tracts of agricultural land are present in the wider landscape. The West Highland Railway line also spans the A85 carriageway at this location.

The scheme extents fall within Landscape Character Type (LCT) ‘Straths and Glens’ (LCT No. 253) which records the following key characteristics (NatureScot):

  • Broad u-shaped glens and straths with wide flat floodplains.
  • Lower side slopes often rolling and complex with hummocky moraine and rocky outcrops.
  • Many glen and strath sides are forested, predominantly with spruce, on upper slopes. Some of these forests occasionally extend across strath and glen floors. Scattered trees and remnants of native woodland are found along the edges of burns.
  • Rivers are prominent in open floodplains, often contained by flood barriers and levees. Less modified stretches of river feature pools, gravel beds and waterfalls.
  • Riparian woodlands trace the course of rivers and their tributaries.
  • Better drained strath and glen floors are farmed with improved pastures. Occasional small regular-shaped plantations and shelter belts pattern hill slopes and valley floors.
  • Mixed policy woodlands and avenues of trees line access tracks in places.
  • Settlements and farms are located on lower side slopes, raised above the floodplain, and often tucked between knolls. Settlements tend to be sited at bridging points or at the junction with side glens.
  • Road and rail transport corridors follow the edges of strath and glen floors.
  • Pylons and low voltage overhead power lines are highly visible features across open glen floors.
  • Open strath and glen floors allow views along and across the traditional farmed landscapes, attractive river landscapes and lochs, as well as the dramatic Highland setting of the surrounding rugged slopes and mountain summits.

The A85 trunk road, within the northwest, connects Perth with Crianlarich and Tyndrum to Oban. The Perth to Crianlarich section commences at the Crieff Road Roundabout within Perth (including the roundabout) leading generally westwards for a distance of 81 kilometres to (but excluding) the A85 / A82 Crianlarich Roundabout. The Tyndrum to Oban section commences at the A82 / A85 Tyndrum junction leading generally westwards for a distance of 57 kilometres to its junction with the A816 within Oban (excluding the roundabout at Argyll Square). The A85 is a single carriageway along its length.

Biodiversity

The scheme extents lie approximately 100m south of the River Tay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and 4km northeast of the Glen Etive and Glen Fyne Special Protection Area (SPA) at the closest points (SiteLink).

As such, ecological connectivity exists between the above SAC/SPA and proposed works. Therefore, further assessment is required, and a Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) was undertaken; the results of this assessment are discussed in the biodiversity impacts and mitigation section below.

There are no Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or any other locally or nationally designated sites for biodiversity features within 300m of the schemes.

The NBN Atlas also holds records of numerous bird species within 2km over a ten-year period. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, all wild birds and their active nests as protected.

The NBN atlas holds no records of invasive and injurious plants (as listed in the Network Management Contract (NMC)) under the same search criteria.

Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) holds three records of rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium) within 300m of the schemes. No other invasive plants or injurious weeds are recorded within 300m of the scheme.

Habitats surrounding the schemes include a mixture of residential gardens and buildings, woodland, managed plantation, and agricultural land. The River Fillan also provides a freshwater corridor in close proximity to the works.

There is one area listed on the Ancient Woodland Inventory Scotland as “Long-established (of plantation origin)” (NatureScot), which lies approximately 150m southeast of scheme extents at its closest point.

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

The BEAR Scotland Northwest Environment Team carried out an ECS within the relevant buffers (up to 200m) of the scheme extents for various protected species.

Geology and soils

The scheme extents do not lie within 300m of any geological SSSIs or Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS) (Scotland’s Environment).

Bedrock within the scheme extents is recorded as psammite and semipelite of the Ben Ledi Grit Formation. Superficial deposits are present in the form of ‘Hummocky (Moundy) Glacial Deposits’ (diamicton, sand and gravel) (Geology Viewer).

Soils within the scheme extents are recorded as humus-iron podzols with mineral alluvial soils with peaty alluvial soils (Scotland’s Soils).

The carbon and peatland 2016 map records soil within the scheme extents as “Class 0” which indicates mineral soils with no peat associations (Scotland’s Soils).

Material assets and waste

The proposed footway improvement works will utilise the following materials:

  • Precast concrete kerbs
  • Type 1 subbase
  • Binder/surface course
  • Concrete
  • Tactile paving slabs

The proposed carriageway resurfacing works will utilities the following materials:

  • TS2010 10mm agg
  • AC20 40/60 Binder
  • AC32 40/60 Base
  • Milled in road studs
  • Thermoplastic road marking paint
  • Bituminous emulsion bond coat

Wastes are anticipated to be primarily planings from the footway and carriageway surface course. All road planings will be managed in accordance with SEPA Position Statement WAS-G-DEF-07 (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. Old kerbing to be replaced will be removed to a local BEAR Scotland depot.

Storage of plant and material will be located on the man-made ground within the TM at the scheme extents.

As the scheme value is greater than £350,000 for the carriageway resurfacing works; a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is required to be in place for works. No SWMP is required for the footway resurfacing works as the value is under the £350,000 threshold.

Noise and vibration

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

The noise map records average noise levels for day, evening and night (Lden) as between 65-70db (Scotland's Noise) within the scheme extents.

It is considered likely that the baseline noise levels will be low, with noise mainly influenced by vehicles travelling along the A85 carriageway. Secondary noise influences are likely to arise from the adjacent railway line and human activity within the village of Crianlarich.

Population and human health

The scheme is located within the village of Crianlarich, and as such several residential and other sensitive properties are located within 300m of the scheme;

  • Crianlarich fire station, police station, church, village hall and several guest houses/youth hostels are located adjacent to scheme extents at their closest points.
  • Crianlarich Primary School is also located approximately 40m south of scheme extents at its closest point.

Several access points are located within scheme extents, which lead to various residential/community receptors, and the local road networks. On-street parking provisions are also located intermittently throughout the scheme.

The nearest traffic count point to the scheme (Site: ATC06001) on the A85 carriageway lies within the scheme extents. A manual traffic count was taken in 2025 which counted 3,736 motor vehicles, with 10.6% of these being heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) (Transport Scotland Traffic Count Data).

There are two Core Paths within 300m of scheme extents, one of which (ID: S0741) is formed by the footpath within the scheme extents (Scotland’s Environment).

There is a single route, “Crianlarich Mountain Lookout Trail”, listed on WalkHighlands within 300m of scheme extents, which crosses the A85 carriageway approximately 280m east of scheme extents (WalkHighlands).

There are no National Cycle Network routes within 300m of scheme extents (OS Maps).

The scheme extents cover the footway adjacent to the A85 westbound carriageway and within the wider village of Crianlarich, there are also a number of other non-motorised user facilities including bus stops and pedestrian crossings (some of which are traffic-light controlled).

Road drainage and the water environment

Road drainage on this section of the A85 is provided via cut grips and top entry gullies.

River Fillan (ID: 6504) is located 130m north of the schemes at its nearest point and was classified by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC in 2024 as being in ‘Moderate’ condition (SEPA). The scheme may share connectivity to this watercourse through local drainage outlets.

The scheme extents are located within the Killin, Aberfeldy, and Angus Glens (ID: 150699) groundwater body (SEPA) which was classified by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) in 2024 as being in ‘Good’ condition and is also a Drinking Water Protected Areas (Ground).

A search of SEPA Flood Map identified high likelihood (10% chance each year) of river, and surface water and small watercourse flooding issues on the A85 at the scheme extents (SEPA Flood Maps).

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).