Island Communities Impact Assessment – Trunk Road Adaptation Plan

Step One - develop a clear understanding of your objectives

  • What are the objectives of the policy, strategy or service?
  • What are the intended impacts/outcomes and how do these potentially differ in the islands?

Transport Scotland’s Trunk Road Adaptation Plan (TRAP) is an action focussed approach to achieving Trunk Roads which are well adapted and resilient to the current, projected, and unexpected impacts of climate change as detailed as an outcome within Transport Scotland’s Approach to Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience (ACCAR).

The thematic areas for the plan derived from the ACCAR Vision are as follows:

  • Addressing road safety challenges, exacerbated by climate change, includes integrating weather forecasting systems, robust communication with stakeholders and road users, and ensuring design standards are fit for purpose with respect to more extreme climate events.
  • Maintaining a reliable Trunk Road Network (TRN) is essential for maintaining efficient road networks; this involves proactive maintenance, real-time monitoring, and coordinated responses to disruptions. Prioritizing reliability across the network enables transportation systems to effectively withstand climate challenges and ensure uninterrupted mobility for people and goods.
  • A focus on resilient infrastructure safeguards transportation assets and ensures the functionality of essential routes, achieved through measures like upgrading drainage systems and reinforcing road surfaces to withstand climate-related challenges. Through targeted resilience actions, Transport Scotland can reduce the disruptive impacts of climate change and maintain the continued functionality of transportation systems.

The intended outcomes will not have an effect on island communities that differs significantly from other communities between islands and on the mainland. Additionally, the TRAP does not set out specific interventions or projects, it provides priority recommendations for the trunk road sector to adapt to the effects of climate change.

Step Two - gather your data and identify your stakeholders

  • What data is available about the current situation in the islands?
  • Who are your key Stakeholders?
  • How does any existing data differ between islands?
  • Are there any existing design features or mitigations in place?

National Transport Strategy (NTS2)

Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2)

Transport Scotland works closely with a number of stakeholders and partners across various modes of transport including (but not limited to), Trunk Road Network Operation Companies, Network Rail, ScotRail Trains Limited, Office for Road and Rail (ORR), Highland and Island Airports Limited (HIAL), Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), Calmac Ferries Limited (CFL), Serco Northlink, and Scottish Canals.

Step Three – Consultation

  • Is there are information already gathered through previous engagements?
  • How will you carry out your consultation and in what timescales? Public meetings/Local Authorities/key Stakeholders
  • What questions will you ask when considering how to address island realities?
  • Separate consultation events for Island communities/Local Authorities?

An ICIA was undertaken for the NTS2 Delivery Plan 2020-22, which sets out a number of strategic policies, including development of the ACCAR, from which the TRAP is a strategic outcome. A consultation was also undertaken to capture a combination of quantitative and qualitative information, allowing respondents to share their views on the ICIA and provide feedback. The results from this ICIA and the consultation report were also used to inform the National Transport Strategy - Fourth Delivery Plan, which commits to publication of the TRAP.

The consultation was open to the public and stakeholders from the 3rd November 2021 to 5th January 2022. The consultation was carried out over a two-month period to give respondents adequate time to review the impact assessment reports and consultation form and provide their responses. However, the majority of the questions received no responses.

The STPR2 Final Summary Report, sets out transport recommendations for the next 20 years. STPR2 is one of the mechanisms for delivering the Vision, Priorities and Outcomes of the NTS2.

A statutory consultation period of 12 weeks providing stakeholders, and members of the public, with the opportunity to comment, ran until 15 April 2022.

This included the following specific sessions in which the impacts on islands were specifically presented:

  • STPR2 EqIA and Fairer Scotland Duty Information Session - 23rd March 2022;
  • STPR2 Island Impact Assessments Information Session – 24th March 2022;
  • STPR2 SEA and EqIA Wider Information Session - 28th March 2022; and
  • STPR2 Impact Assessments Information Session - 31st March 2022

Feedback from this consultation has been used to finalise the STPR2 publications and its 45 recommendations. In parallel, a number of equality and environmental statutory impact assessments have been undertaken covering, amongst others, the ICIA.

Twenty-two regional workshops were held in May 2019 to identify problems and opportunities for each of the regions. A wide range of stakeholders were invited to these workshops including, for example, members from Local Authorities, Access Panels and Public Transport Providers. Ten national workshops were held throughout August and September 2019 as detailed above, with an Equalities Specific Workshop (including Island Communities) held on the 18th September 2019. Engagement included a range of online surveys, structured interviews, elected members engagement and business engagement events.

Step Four – Assessment

  • Does your assessment identify any unique impacts on island communities? (Further detail in the Guidance):
    • Demographic
    • Economic
    • Gaelic
    • Social
  • Does your assessment identify any potential barriers or wider impacts?
  • Are there mitigations already in place for these impacts raised?

It is not expected that the intended outcomes will have an effect on island communities, which is significantly different from the effect on other communities, and the TRAP does not set out specific interventions or projects.

The Gaelic language is important to many island communities. However, this strategy will not have an impact on languages and the cultural heritage relevant to specific island communities.

Transport Scotland actively engages with operators, providing information and guidance where appropriate, on services and infrastructure projects through a variety of working and advisory groups.

If the increase in digital connection results in less journeys being required (such as to work, access healthcare, or other online services) then this could place less requirement on the islands’ infrastructure or reduce people’s environmental impact through journey reduction.

Climate change is likely to increase the intensity and frequency of severe and extreme weather events which could disrupt the use of the Trunk Road Network (TRN). In relation to climate change adaptation, a Vulnerable Locations Operational Group (VLOG) work to identify key areas of the TRN which are most at risk of climate change impacts and deliver adaptation where required. The VLOG will deliver on the recommendations within the TRAP.

Is a full Island Communities Impact Assessment required?

You should now determine whether, in your opinion, your policy, strategy or service is likely to have an effect on an island community which is significantly different from its effect on other communities (including other island communities). To form your opinion, the following questions should be considered:

  • Are there mitigations in place for the impacts identified and noted above from stakeholders and community consultations? (If further ICIA action is not required, complete the section below and publish).
  • Does the evidence show different circumstances or different expectations or needs, or different experiences or outcomes (such as levels of satisfaction, or different rates of participation)?
  • Are these different effects likely?
  • Are these effects significantly different?
  • Could the effect amount to a disadvantage for an island community compared to the mainland or between island groups?
  • If your answer is ‘no’ to the above questions, please complete the box below.

No to all.

A full Islands Community Impact Assessment is NOT required.

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Published Date 23 Mar 2026 Mode of transport Topic