Description of Local Environment

Air quality

There are no Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) within 10km of the scheme extents. 

There are no registered sites on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) located within 10km of the schemes.

There are no Air Quality Monitoring Stations (AQMS) within 10km of the scheme extents.

Due to the semi-rural location of the works, baseline air quality is likely to be primarily influenced by traffic travelling along the A85; with secondary sources likely derived by nearby land management activities.

Cultural heritage

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

  • Category C Listed Building ‘Lochearnhead, Leckine, Maclaren Clan Burial Ground’ (reference: LB50374) located 80m north-west of the scheme.
  • Category B Listed Building ‘Loch Earn, Dalveich, Cottage’ (reference: LB50372) located 170m north of the scheme.

The following cultural heritage features of lesser importance are recorded within 300m of the scheme; these features are not designated protected assets (PastMap):

  • 15 Historic Environment Records (HER’s), the following of which overlap the footprint of the scheme extent:
  • ‘Watching Brief: House Extension at Lechine Cottage, Lochearnhead’ (reference: 6678)
  • ‘Lime Quarry’ (reference: 65396)
  • ‘Leckine’ (reference: 66006)
  • ‘Lechine Cottage’ (reference 99108)
  • 7 National Records of the Historic Environment (NRHE), the following of which lie directly adjacent to the A85 trunk road:
  • ‘Lime Quarry’ (reference: 127029) located adjacent to the EB carriageway at a distance of 5m.
  • ‘Lechine Cottage’ (reference: 351825) located directly adjacent to the EB carriageway.

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

Landscape and visual effects

The scheme is located wholly within the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park (LLTNP) (Site ID: 8621) which is designated for the following general special 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 is not located within proximity to a National Scenic Area (SiteLink).

The scheme is located on a semi-rural stretch of the A85 east of Lochearnhead. The surrounding land is dominated by grazing pastures; montane scrub; freshwater habitat; mixed woodland, including forestry plantations; and residential settlements. Loch Earn forms a dominant landscape feature to the south of the A85 trunk road. 

The scheme is located within the Landscape Character Type (LCT) ‘LCT 254- Straths and Glens with Lochs’ which has the following key characteristics (NatureScot):

  • Strongly enclosed by steep and often rugged hill slopes with lochs filling much of the space between, leaving only a narrow flatter margin against the loch shore.
  • Lochs generally long and narrow.
  • Narrow passes occur between some lochs. Subtle promontories and narrow beaches feature on loch shorelines, – these particularly appreciated in long views down the length of the lochs. Modification of natural lochs and water catchments in the Park, giving rise to a variety of structures including dams and aqueducts – many of these comprise distinctive 19th Century structures.
  • Settlements often located at the head of lochs and major through roads are aligned through some of these glens and straths.
  • Scattered traditional dwellings or clusters of buildings usually located close to alluvial pastures at the intersection with side glens and water courses on some loch shores.
  • Tourism and recreation facilities along loch shores.
  • Highland-type designed landscapes, grand houses, hunting lodges and associated features, policies and parklands occupy prime loch shore positions. Pier and timber boat houses are a common feature in association with houses and estates particularly on Loch Ard.
  • Lochs are highly visible, with roads and cycle/walking routes aligned close to their shores.
  • Long views are possible across open water to the Highland Summits and the combination of craggy towering hills and smooth water is an essential component of the scenic richness of the National Park.

The A85 Trunk Road, within the North West, 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

There are no European Sites, such as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Areas (SPA), or Ramsar, within 2km of, or with connectivity to, the scheme.

The Dalveich Meadow Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) (Site ID: 493) lies above the level of the A85 approximately 60m south of the works. The SSSI is designated for lowland calcareous grassland and lowland neutral grassland.

There are no other locally or nationally designated sites for biodiversity features (e.g. Local or National Nature Reserves) located 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 no records of injurious weeds or invasive non-native species (INNS) (as listed in the Network Management Contract (NMC)) under the same search criteria; however, this does not preclude their potential presence in the area.

The Transport Scotland Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) holds three records of rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium) within 300m of the scheme. There are no INNS or injurious weeds recorded within the footprint of the scheme extents.

Habitat in the surrounding area is dominated by grazing pastures; montane scrub; freshwater habitat; mixed woodland, including forestry plantations; and residential settlements.

There is one area of woodland as listed on the Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) approximately 190m north of the scheme with antiquity listed as ‘other (on Roy map)’. 

There are no Tree Preservation Orders (TPO’s) designated by LLTNP within 300m of the scheme.

A Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) and Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA) of the works disturbance buffer was conducted by the BEAR Scotland NW Environment Team on 5 June 2025.

Geology and soils

There are no Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS’s) or SSSI’s designated for geological features within 300m of the scheme (SiteLink).

Component soils to the east of the scheme extent are mineral alluvial soils with peaty alluvial soils. The parent materials are recent riverine and lacustrine alluvial deposits. Component soils to the west of the scheme extent are humus-iron podzols with peaty gleys. The parent materials are drifts derived from arenaceous schists and strongly metamorphosed argillaceous schists of the Dalradian Series (Scotland’s Soils).

Soils in the area around the scheme extent are comprised of Class 0 mineral soils, and peatland habitats are not typically found on such soils (Carbon and Peatland Map 2016).

Bedrock geology within the scheme extent is comprised of Pitlochry Schist Formation- psammite and semipelite (Scottish Geology Trust).

Material assets and waste

The proposed embankment works involve the construction of a buried concrete road edge beam along the WB abutting carriageway; and the reinstatement and seeding of the verge above the concrete beam. Verge height reduction will also be conducted along the full scheme extent. Excavation is required as part of the works with excavated material to be reused within the scheme extents where possible. Vegetation management may be required if deemed to be necessary. Materials will consist of:

  • Approximately 105m3 of Portland cement
  • Approximately 23.5m3 of topsoil
  • Grass seeds
  • Plywood boarding/joint boards

The proposed resurfacing works are required to resurface the worn carriageways (EB and WB), remove the surface course and repair structural defects. Road markings and studs will also be installed. Materials used will consist of:

  • Asphaltic materials (TS2010 surface course, warm mix AC20 binder course and warm mix AC32 base course)
  • Sub-base material
  • Bituminous emulsion bond coat
  • Milled in road studs
  • Thermoplastic road marking paint.

Individual scheme values do not exceed the value for the requirement for a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP).

The contractor is responsible for the disposal of road planings and this has been registered in accordance with the Paragraph 13 (a) waste exemption issued by SEPA, as described in Schedule 3of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 2011 (exemption number: WML/XS/2011894).

Soil waste generated from embankment works will be reused on site where possible, with remaining to be disposed of in a licenced waste facility. Soil material will be tested for contaminants prior to its disposal.

No site compound is required for these works. Storage of plant and equipment will be within TM on the A85 carriageway. No coal tar has been highlighted as present along the scheme extent.

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 Transport Scotland’s Transportation Noise Action Plan (TNAP) 2019-2023.

Noise modelled data from Environmental Noise Directive (END) Round 4 Noise Mapping indicates annual average noise level for day, evening and night (Lden) as between 55 and 60dB at the scheme location (SpatialData).

Due to the semi-rural location of the scheme, baseline noise levels are likely to be primarily influenced by traffic travelling along the A85; with secondary sources derived from nearby land management activities.

Population and human health

The scheme lies on a semi-rural stretch of the A85 east of Lochearnhead. There are approximately 15 residential and/or commercial properties within 300m of the scheme, the closest of which lie directly adjacent to the EB carriageway with minimal acoustic or visual screening.

There are 4 local access points adjacent to the EB carriageway within the footprint of the scheme extent.

There are no laybys, parking facilities, paved footways, bus stops or pedestrian facilities within the footprint of the scheme.

There are no National Cycle Routes or walking routes designated by WalkHighlands within 300m of the scheme.

There is one Core Path which runs parallel to the EB carriageway at a distance of 30m at its closest point the scheme (core path reference number: S1042).

In 2024, the annual average daily flow (AADF) of traffic was estimated on the A85 at a site 13km east of the scheme (Site ID: 0000ATC00001) and accounted for 1,978 vehicles, with 14.7% of these heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) (Transport Scotland Traffic Count Data).

TM for embankment works will involve WB lane closures with two-way temporary traffic lights. TM for resurfacing works will involve full night-time road closures with regular amnesties.

Road drainage and the water environment

The scheme extent and surrounding area is underpinned by the Killin, Aberfeldy and Angus Glens groundwater (ID: 150669). This is 3741.1 square kilometres in area and in 2023 was assigned ‘Good Ecological Potential’ by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) (SEPA).

Loch Earn is a lake (ID: 100251) in the River Earn catchment of the Scotland river basin district. It is 9.5 square kilometres in area and lies parallel to the south of the scheme at a distance of 15m at its closest point. The water body has been designated as a heavily modified water body on account of physical alterations that cannot be addressed without significant impacts on water storage for hydroelectricity generation. In 2023, it was assigned ‘Moderate Ecological Potential’ by SEPA under the WFD (SEPA).

Beich Burn is a river (ID: 6822) in the River Earn catchment of the Scotland river basin district. The main stem is approximately 10.2 kilometres in length and it is culverted under the A85 90m east of the scheme. The water body has been designated as a heavily modified water body on account of physical alterations that cannot be addressed without a significant impact on water storage for hydroelectricity generation. In 2023, it was assigned ‘Good Ecological Potential’ by SEPA under the WFD (SEPA).

There are several unclassified waterbodies, drains, springs in proximity to the scheme and culverted under the A85 within the scheme extent (SEPA).

SEPA Flood Map has highlighted a medium to high risk of river flooding within the scheme extent (i.e. a 0.5-10% chance of flooding each year). There are also small areas which are of high risk of surface water and small watercourses flooding (i.e. a 10% chance of flooding each year).

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).