Description of local environment

Air quality

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

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 schemes.

Due to the rural location of the schemes, baseline air quality is likely to be good; with the main sources of air pollution derived from vehicular traffic on the A85 and A84 trunk roads.

Cultural heritage

The following features of cultural heritage significance are located within 300m of the schemes (PastMap):

  • Category C Listed Building, ‘Glen Ogle, Bridge on A85’ (reference: LB4137) located within the A85 South of Glen Ogle Viaduct scheme extent.
  • Category C Listed Building, ‘Glen Ogle, Bridge on A85 over Allt an Sput Dhuibh’ (reference: LB3136) located within the A85 Glen Ogle Burn scheme extent.
  • Category C Listed Building, ‘Glen Ogle, Bridge on A85’ (reference LB4138) located 25m north of the A85 South of Glen Ogle Viaduct scheme extent.
  • Category C Listed Building, ‘Glen Ogle, Bridge on A85 Glen Ogle, Bridge over Ogle Burn on Former Military Road 1km North of Glenogle Farm’ (reference: LB4135) located 230m south of the A85 Glen Ogle Burn scheme extent.
  • Category C Listed Building, ‘Glen Ogle, Bridge on A85 over Ogle Burn near Glen Ogle Farm’ (reference: LB4134) located 250m north of the A85 North of Lochearnhead Scout Station scheme extent.
  • Category B Listed Building, ‘Lochearnhead, Former Railway Viaduct Over the Ogle Burn’ (reference: LB4170) located 230m south-east of the A85 North of Lochearnhead Scout Station scheme extent.

Of lesser cultural heritage significance multiple records on the National Records of the Historic Environment (NRHE) and Historic Environment Record (HER) databases are located within, and within 300m of, the schemes; the closest of which relate to the Listed Buildings detailed above (PastMap).

There are no World Heritage Sites; Scheduled Monuments; Gardens and Designed Landscapes; Battlefields or Conservation Areas located within 300m of the schemes (PastMap).

Landscape and visual effects

The schemes are 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 schemes do not lie within a National Scenic Area (NSA) or any other site designated for its landscape character and quality (NatureScot).

The Landscape Character Type (LCT) at the three schemes is ‘LCT 252- Upland Glens- Loch Lomond and the Trossachs’ which is characterised by the following features:

  • Often narrow with little flat glen floor, strongly enclosed by steep hill slopes of the adjacent ‘Steep Ridges and Hills’ and ‘Highland Summits’.
  • Steep glen sides often patterned with rocky outcrops, boulders and screes, but also extensively forested, particularly on lower slopes.
  • Tributary burns and rivers cut deep gullies into slopes and many feature waterfalls and cascades, pools and rocky outcrops.
  • Walled pastures sometimes occasionally occurring on lower (usually south-facing) slopes. Heather covers better drained areas and bright green flushes appear at spring lines on hill slopes.
  • Some glens covered with extensive coniferous forestry.
  • Notable ancient and semi-ancient woodlands of oak and birch in some glens. Natural regeneration of scrub woodland where grazing has declined as in the Luss Glens.
  • Relict wood pasture and Caledonian pine woodlands evident in some areas.
  • Scattered trees and native woodland trace the edges of burns.
  • Sparsely settled but with some isolated farms in lower reaches of glens, these often south-facing.
  • The significant cultural features in more open glens, including shielings and abandoned field systems.
  • Areas of crofting evident on some lower slopes.
  • Some important historic strategic routes for communications and accommodate key road and rail links today for example.
  • Classic views channelled up and down the Glens, with steep side slopes framing landscapes that lie beyond them.

The schemes are located on a rural stretch of the A85, north of Lochearnhead. The surrounding land is dominated by grazing pastures, montane scrub; freshwater habitat; mixed woodland, including forestry plantations; and scattered residential settlements to the south. Loch Earn provides a dominant landscape feature to the south-east, with the A85 and A84 trunk roads prominent features in the wider landscape.

Land use surrounding the schemes is classified as (HLA Map):

  • Managed woodland
  • Plantation
  • Rectilinear fields and farms
  • Small holdings
  • Rough grazing

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

The schemes are not located within 2km of, nor do they have ecological connectivity with, any European designated sites (e.g. Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Ramsar sites) (SiteLink).

There are no locally or nationally designated sites for biodiversity features (e.g. Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Local or National Nature Reserves) within 300m of the schemes (SiteLink).

The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas holds several records of bird species within 2km of each 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 invasive non-native species (INNS) of plant, injurious weeds or invasive native perennials (as listed in the Network Management Contract (NMC)) under the same search criteria; however, this does not preclude their potential presence in the area.

A search using Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) found one record of the invasive native perennial, rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifloium) along the verges of the A85 approximately 220m north of the A85 North of Lochearnhead Scout Station scheme extent.

Habitat close to the schemes is predominantly comprised of rough grazing, freshwater habitat, scattered fields and farms, and areas of mixed woodland, including forestry plantations.

There is one area of trees listed on the Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) adjacent to the SB carriageway within the A85 North of Lochearnhead Scout Station scheme extent. This area of trees is listed as ‘ancient (of semi-natural origin)’ antiquity.

There are no individual trees or areas of trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) by LLTNP, within 300m of the schemes. 

Considering the nature, duration, size and scale of the schemes, which will be conducted on a rolling programme, moving progressively along the A85; the potential for significant species disturbance within the area of likely construction disturbance is considered to be low. As such, a desktop study has been deemed sufficient for this assessment, and no ecological surveys have been conducted.

Geology and soils

The schemes do not lie within 300m of a Geological Review Site (GCRS) or SSSI designated for geological features (NatureScot).

Component soils found in the areas surrounding the schemes are largely sandy diamicton and/or humus iron podzols with peaty gleys. The soils surrounding the schemes are also of Carbon and Peatland Map 2016 Class 0; mineral soils where peat and peatland habitats are not typically found (Scotland’s Soils).

Bedrock geology throughout the schemes are comprised of the following (Scottish Geology Trust):

  • Loch Tay Limestone Formation- metalimestone
  • Pitlochry Schist Formation- psammite and semipelite
  • Ben Lui Schist Formation- garnet semipelite

Superficial deposits are comprised of the following (Scottish Geology Trust):

  • Hummocky (moundy) Glacial Deposits- diamicton, sand and gravel
  • Till- diamicton

Material assets and waste

The resurfacing works are required to replace worn surface and general maintenance of the A85 trunk road. Materials used will consist of:

  • TS2010 10mm aggregate
  • AC20 40/60 binder
  • Milled in road studs
  • Thermoplastic road marking paint
  • Bituminous emulsion bond coat

Wastes are anticipated to be removed planings from the surface course, which will be treated in line with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) Low Risk Waste Activity (LRWA) 3 and be recycled in line with SEPA’s WAS-G-DEF-05 Guidance for End-of-Waste for Recycled Aggregates.

Coal tar has not been identified at the scheme locations and there is no requirement for any site compounds. Storage of plant and equipment will be within TM on the A85 carriageway at each scheme.

The estimated individual scheme values do not exceed £350,000, therefore a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is not required.

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 Transport Noise Action Plan (TNAP) 2024-2028.

The average evening, day and night (Lden) noise level at the schemes average between 65-70dB (SpatialData.gov.scot).

Due to the rural location of the proposed works, baseline noise levels are likely low, with the primary sources from vehicular traffic on the A85 and nearby A84 trunk roads. Secondary sources are likely derived from nearby land management operations.

Population and human health

The schemes are located within 2km of the small settlement of Lochearnhead; however, there are no residential or commercial properties located within 300m of the A85 South of Glen Ogle Viaduct or A85 Glen Ogle Burn schemes. There are approximately 14 residential properties and associated outbuildings located within 300m of the A85 North of Lochearnhead Scout Station scheme, the closest of which is a residential property located 6m west of the scheme.

There are several local access points within the individual scheme extents; however, there are no junctions, laybys or parking areas within any of schemes.

There are no pedestrian footways or bus stops located within any of the scheme extents. Additionally, there are no National Cycle Routes or LLTNP Core Paths that utilise the A85 within any of the schemes extents.

There is one walking route designated by WalkHighlands, ‘Glen Ogle Trail, Lochearnhead’, which utilises a small section of the A85 within the A85 South of Glen Ogle Viaduct scheme. There are no walking routes within the other schemes extents.

Transport Scotland’s manual data counter (Site ID: 000000006003) located 2.9km south of the schemes at its closest point, recorded an annual daily total (ADT) of 3,769 motor vehicles in 2025, of which 10.1% were heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).

TM for each scheme will consist of full road closures with hourly amnesties (19.00-06.00).

Road drainage and the water environment

The schemes and surrounding areas are underpinned by the Killin, Aberfeldy and Angus Glens groundwater (ID: 150599). In 2024, it was assigned ‘Good Ecological Potential’ by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) under the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (WFD) (SEPA).

River Ogle (ID: 6824) is a river in the River Earn catchment of the Scotland river basin district. The main stem is approximately 6.9km in length and flows parallel to the A85 across the length of the three schemes. In 2024, it was assigned ‘High Ecological Potential’ by SEPA under the WFD (SEPA).

Additionally, there are several unclassified water bodies, drains and culverts within 300m of each of the schemes, and culverted under the A85 trunk road (SEPA).

SEPA Flood Map has indicated a high likelihood of river water flooding (i.e. a 10% chance of flooding each year); and a low to high likelihood of surface and small watercourses flooding (i.e. a 0.1-10% chance of flooding each year) at sections throughout the schemes extents.

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).