Description of local environment

Air quality

There are no Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) or Air Quality Monitoring Stations (AQMS) within 10km of the scheme.

There are no sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) within 10km of the scheme (Scotland’s Environment).

Baseline air quality is likely to be primarily influenced by vehicular traffic on the A85. Secondary sources are likely derived from the local road network, urban activities associated with St Fillans, recreational activities within Loch Earn and day-to-day land management activities in the surrounding area.

Cultural heritage

A desktop study using Historic Environment Scotland’s PastMap has identified the following cultural heritage features of significance within 300m of the scheme:

  • Category C Listed Building ‘St Fillans, Fortrenn with Retaining Wall and Summer House’ (LB50381) lies 23m northwest of the scheme (Layby 4).
  • Category C Listed Building ‘St Fillans, Wellandura Including Outbuildings and Boundary Walls’ (LB50391) lies 230m southeast of the scheme (Layby 4).
  • Layby 4 lies within St Fillans Conservation Area.

Of lesser cultural heritage value, several Historic Environment Records (HERs) and National Records of the Historic Environment (NRHE) are located within 300m of the scheme at both locations. The nearest of these is both a HER and NRHE entry for a hydroelectric power station, ‘St Fillans Power Station’, which lies 30m east of the scheme (Layby 4).

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

Landscape and visual effects

The scheme is located within Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park (LLTNP) (NatureScot Site Code: 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 300m of a National Scenic Area (NSA) (SiteLink).

The Landscape Character Type (LCT) within the scheme extent is recorded as ‘Straths and Glens with Lochs’ (LCT No. 234), which has the following key characteristics:

  • 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.

Both laybys lie on the A85 along the north bank of Loch Earn. The surrounding landscape is largely woodland, with urban dwellings and freshwater habitats also present (HLA Map). The A85 hugs the Loch Earn shore at the scheme extents, which forms a dominant landscape feature to the south.

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 with ecological connectivity to the scheme extents (SiteLink).

There are no locally or nationally designated sites for biodiversity such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), National Nature Reserves (NNR) or Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) within 300m of either of the sites (SiteLink).

Numerous bird species were recorded on National Biodiversity Network Atlas (NBN Atlas). Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), all wild birds and their active nests are protected.

The NBN Atlas does not hold records of invasive and injurious weeds (as listed in the Network Management Contract (NMC)) using the same search criteria as noted above.

Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) highlighted records of the invasive native plant, rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium), and injurious plant, common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris), along the A85 within the vicinity of the scheme extents.

The scheme extent runs along the northern bank of Loch Earn, with mixed woodland flanking the A85 to the north.

All trees within St Fillans Conservation Area are protected under Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) within 300m of the scheme at Layby 4. There are no other trees protected under TPO within 300m of the scheme (at Layby 7) (LLTNP).

An Ecological Constraints Survey (ECS) was undertaken by the BEAR Scotland Environmental Team at A85 Loch Earn Laybys on 19th March 2026.

Geology and soils

The scheme does not lie within 300m of a Geological Conservation Review Site (GCRS) or a geologically designated SSSI (NatureScot Sitelink).

Superficial deposits at the scheme extent are comprised of Till-Diamicton layer (BGS Geology Viewer).

Bedrock within the scheme extent is comprised of Ben Ledi Grit Formation-Metasandstone layer (BGS Geology Viewer).

The major soil groups within the scheme extent are brown earths (Scotland’s Soils).

Soils within the scheme extent are recorded as being ‘Class 0’, as displayed on Scotland’s Peat Map. Class 0 are mineral soils with no peat present.

Material assets and waste

The laybys along Loch Earn are heavily used by both tourists and local residents throughout the year. They provide a scenic stopping place for those travelling to and from the north-west of the country and are now in need of improvement works. The proposed works will utilise the following materials:

  • Road lining
  • Studs
  • Signs and poles
  • Surface binder
  • Pavement

Wastes are anticipated to be replaced signs and excavated soil material. Signs are to be recycled in a licenced waste facility with the excavated soil material to be reused within the footprint of the scheme.

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

As the scheme value is not greater than £350,000 (approximately £176,000), a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is not required to be in place for works.

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).

Day, evening and night-time (Lden) noise levels on the A85 at the scheme extent are between 55-65dB (Scotland’s Noise Map).

The baseline noise and vibration at the scheme extent is primarily influenced by vehicular traffic on the A85. Secondary sources are likely derived from the local road network, urban activities associated with St Fillans, recreational activities within Loch Earn and day-to-day land management activities in the surrounding area.

Population and human health

Layby 4 lies within the village of St Fillans with 6 residential properties and one hotel located within 300m of the scheme. The nearest of these is a residential property which is located on the rock slope 30m northwest of the scheme and screened by woodland. There are no properties within 300m of Layby 7.

Public toilets are located within Layby 4.

Paved footpaths/verges lie adjacent to Layby 4. There are no footpaths at Layby 7. A starting point to walking route Loch Earn viewpoint walk, St Fillans lies on the A85 165m east of the scheme at Layby 4 (WalkHighlands). The walking route is also noted as Core Path S1024 (LLTNP). Core Path S1042 also runs parallel to the A85, located approximately 70m north of both laybys at its closest point (LLTNP).

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

The A85 within the scheme extents is a single carriageway, with the speed limit varying between 30mph and 50mph. The nearest Transport Scotland manual data counter to the scheme (Site: ATC00001 - A85 West of Comrie) is located approximately 6km east and recorded an annual daily total (ADT) of 2,056 motor vehicles in 2025, of which 4.8% were heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).

According to Scottish Road Works there are no other works currently scheduled within 300m of the scheme (Scottish Road Works).

Road drainage and the water environment

Loch Earn (ID: 100251) is a lake classified by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) under the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (WFD) that lies 7m south of the scheme at its nearest point (SEPA). Loch Earn was assigned overall status of ‘Moderate’ by SEPA in 2024.

A number of unnamed waterbodies, unclassified by SEPA, are culverted under the A85 within 300m of the scheme.

The ‘Killin, Aberfeldy and Angus Glens’ groundwater body (ID: 150699) underlies the scheme extents and has been classified by SEPA as ‘Good’ in 2024. This is also a Drinking Water Protected Area (DWPA) (ground and surface) (Scotland’s Environment).

SEPA Indicative Surface Water Flood Map identifies that both laybys within the scheme extents are at high risk of river flooding (i.e. a 10% annual probability of flooding at these locations). In addition, Layby 4 was identified as having a high likelihood of surface water flooding from small watercourses (i.e. a 10% annual probability of flooding at these locations) (SEPA).

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).