Description of local environment
Air quality
The scheme is located along a section of the M74, between Larkhall and Blackwood in South Lanarkshire. The immediate scheme extents are bordered by densely populated mature trees and vegetation in the middle section of the scheme, with trees becoming sporadic towards the start and end point. This vegetation is situated on gentle slopes that line either side of the carriageway. Where trees are sparse, the bordering agricultural fields can be seen to the north, south, east and west. The closest town is located approximately 1km north of the scheme extents, this being Birkenshaw.
There are no residential properties or any sensitive air quality receptors located within 200m of the scheme extents. There are multiple residential properties within 200m of the diversion route, the closest being located adjacent to the B7078 through Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood. There are also multiple non-residential air quality receptors adjacent to the diversion route including Blackwood Primary School and Blackwood Medical Practice.
Baseline air quality is likely to be primarily influenced by traffic along the M74 and the diversion route. Manual count point 10705, located within the scheme extents, shows that in 2024, the Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) for all motor vehicles was 42,250 with 8,671 of these being Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).
South Lanarkshire Council have declared two Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs), however, both are situated beyond 200m of the scheme extents.
There are no sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) within 1km of the scheme extents. Additionally, there are no Air Quality Monitoring Stations located within 200m of the scheme extents.
Cultural heritage
A desk-based assessment has been undertaken using Pastmap online mapping tool. The study area covered a 300m area for designated cultural heritage assets and a 200m area for non-designated cultural heritage assets. There are no designated cultural heritage assets located within 300m. Full details of non-designated assets can be found in Table 1 below.
| Name | Reference Number | Description | Distance From Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millburn | 180118 | Canmore - Farmstead (Period Unassigned) | Approx. 120m east of the scheme extents. |
As works are like-for-like structural inlays with no breaking of ground or excavation, there will be no impact on any identified cultural heritage assets. Therefore, cultural heritage has been scoped out of further assessment.
Landscape and visual effects
The immediate scheme extents are bordered by densely populated mature trees and vegetation in the middle section of the scheme, with trees becoming sporadic towards the start and end point. This vegetation is situated on gentle slopes that line either side of the carriageway.
There are no distinctive cultural landscape or historical landscape features within the scheme extents.
According to Scotland’s Environment Web, Canderdikehead Plantation Ancient Woodland, (ID: 30063), is located adjacent to the scheme extents along the NB carriageway. There are no other Ancient Woodlands or any Gardens and Designed Landscapes, National Scenic Areas or any Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) within 500m of the scheme extents.
Scotland’s Historic Land Use Assessment (HLA) Map has highlighted that the land use within the scheme extents has been previously used as ‘Rectilinear Fields and Farms’.
The Landscape Character Type (LCT) within the scheme extents can be classed as ‘201 - Plateau Farmland - Glasgow & Clyde Valley’ characterised by the following:
- Extensive, open, flat or gently undulating landform.
- Dominance of pastoral farming, but with some mosses surviving.
- Limited and declining tree cover.
- Visually prominent settlements and activities such as mineral working.
- Rural character of the Plateau Farmland has reduced as tree cover has declined and the visual influence of settlements, transport infrastructure and mineral working has increased.
The views from the carriageway are mostly of mature trees and vegetation. Where trees are sparse, the bordering agricultural fields can be seen to the north, south, east and west.
Due to the rural location, as well as natural screening from topography and vegetation, no residential properties or any other visual receptors will experience views of the works.
Biodiversity
A desktop study using NatureScot’s online research tool, Sitelink, has highlighted that the Clyde Valley Woods Special Area of Conservation (SAC), (ID: 8224) is located approximately 552m west of the scheme extents. A Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) Stage 1 has been undertaken which has concluded that no Likely Significant Effects (LSE) will occur.
There are no national designations, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), that have connectivity or lie within 200m of the scheme extents.
The following target species and Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) are recorded within 500m of the scheme extents, but are out with the works area, as highlighted by the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas:
- Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) - INNS
- Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) - INNS
- Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) - INNS
- Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense) – Target species
- Broad leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius) – Target species
Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) has identified rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium) and creeping thistle along both the NB and southbound verge of the M74, within the scheme extents.
The scheme and the surrounding habitat have been reviewed by a senior ecologist utilising desktop resources. As a result, the need for a field survey was scoped out due to the nature of the works and due to the fact that all works will be restricted to the existing carriageway boundary.
Geology and soils
There are no Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS), Local Geodiversity Sites or any Geological SSSIs that have connectivity or are within 200m of the scheme extents as noted by NatureScot’s Sitelink.
According to Scotland’s Soils Map, the soil within the scheme extents consists of ‘Noncalcarous gleys’. The national scale land capability for agriculture can be classed as ’4.1’. This land is capable of producing a narrow range of crops, primarily grassland with short arable breaks of forage crops and cereal.
A search on Britain’s Geology Map has identified that the geology within the scheme extents along the M74 carriageway consists of the following:
Bedrock Geology
- Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation - Sedimentary rock cycles, coal measure type. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 319 and 318 million years ago during the Carboniferous period.
Superficial Deposits
- Till, Devensian - Diamicton. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago during the Quaternary period.
As the works will be like-for-like resurfacing of previously engineered layers, it has been determined that the proposed project does not carry the potential to cause direct or indirect impact to geology or soils. As such, impact has been assessed as being ‘no change’ and has been scoped out of requiring further assessment.
Material assets and waste
The proposed scheme does not require a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) as the total value is under £350,000.
Tables 2 and 3 below outline the materials required for the scheme and waste expected to be produced during the works. Tar bound materials were not identified during the investigation coring.
|
Activity |
Materials Required |
Sources |
|
Construction |
· TS2010 Surface Course · AC20 Bituminous Binder · AC32 Bituminous Base · Fuels and oil · White Lining · Road studs |
· Resurfacing materials will be derived from recycled, secondary or re-used origin as far as practicable within the design specifications to reduce natural resource depletion and associated emissions. · Materials will comprise mostly of virgin aggregate. · TS2010 Surface Course allows a wider array of aggregate sources to be considered when compared to typical Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA). As a result, the use of TS2010 will reduce the usage of imported aggregates and increase the use of a wider range of sustainable aggregate sources. |
|
Activity |
Waste Produced |
Disposal |
|
Construction |
· Asphalt Planings · Old Road Studs |
· Uncontaminated road planings generated as a result of the required works, will be fully recycled in accordance with the criteria stipulated within the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) document ‘Guidance on the Production of Fully Recoverable Asphalt Road Planings. · Old road studs will be recycle and reused where possible. · No coal tar was found during investigation stages. |
Noise and vibration
There are two residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents, the closest being approximately 290m west on Carlisle Road. There are no other sensitive noise and vibration receptors within 300m.
There are multiple residential properties within 300m of the diversion route, the closest of which are those located adjacent to the B7078 through Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood. There are also multiple other non-residential noise sensitive receptors adjacent to the diversion route including Blackwood Primary School and Blackwood Medical Practice.
Baseline noise and vibration is likely to be predominantly impacted by traffic along the M74 with secondary sources from farming activities. This is demonstrated through manual count point 10705, located within the scheme extents, showing that in 2024, the AADF for all motor vehicles was 42,250 with 8,671 of these being HGVs.
Scotland’s Noise Map has recorded that the noise level (Lday) during daytime hours, within the scheme extents, ranges from approximately 66dB to 78dB. During nighttime hours, the noise level (Lngt) within the scheme extents has been recorded to range from 65dB to 73dB.
The works do not fall within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) as highlighted by Transport Scotland’s Transportation Noise Action Plan (TNAP) (2019-2023).
Population and human health
Due to the like-for-like nature of the works, an area of 300m has been investigated to determine the population and human health baseline.
The land surrounding the scheme extents is predominantly used for agricultural purposes. The scheme is in a rural area with two residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents, the closest being approximately 290m west on Carlisle Road. There are no sensitive community facility receptors within 300m. The nearest community facilities are located approximately 1.5km north in Larkhall.
There are no Core Paths, National Cycle Network Routes or any bridleways within 300m of the scheme extents.
There are also no laybys, streetlights, bus stops, access/egress points or any footways located within the scheme extents, along the M74 carriageway.
Road drainage and the water environment
According to SEPA’s Water Classification Hub, there are no classified watercourses located within 500m of the scheme extents. However, Mill Burn is located approximately 157m east of the scheme extents, this watercourse is unclassified on SEPA’s map. There are no other waterbodies within 500m or any ponds within 250m of the works area.
SEPA’s Flood Risk Map has highlighted the entire length of the scheme extents has a medium to high (0.5 - 10%) chance of surface water flooding.
Groundwater within the scheme extents consists of Glasgow and Motherwell groundwater, (ID: 150677), which has an overall poor quality.
The works do not fall within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).
Drainage within the scheme extents consists of gullies, catchpits and filter stones.
Climate
Carbon Goals
The Climate Change (Scotland) Act sets out the target and vision set by the Scottish Government for tackling and responding to climate change. The Act includes a target of reducing CO2 emissions by 80% before 2050 (from the baseline year 1990).
The Scottish Government has since published its indicative Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to set out how it will instead reach net-zero by 2045, working to reduce emissions of all major greenhouse gases by at least 75% by 2030. By 2040, the Scottish Government is committed to reduce emissions by 90%, with the aim of reaching net-zero by 2045 at the latest.
Transport Scotland is committed to reducing carbon across Scotland’s transport network, this commitment is being enacted through the Mission Zero for Transport. Transport is the largest contributor to harmful climate emissions in Scotland. In response to the climate emergency, TS are committed to reducing their emissions by 75% by 2030 and to a legally binding target of net-zero by 2045.
Amey’s Company Wide Carbon Goal is to achieve Scope 1 and 2 net-zero carbon emissions, with a minimum of 80% absolute reduction on our emissions by 2035. Amey is aiming to be fully net-zero, including Scope 3 emissions, by 2040.
Amey are working towards a contractual commitment to have carbon neutral depots on the SW NMC network by 2028. Amey have set carbon goals for the SW NMC contract as a whole to be net-zero carbon by 2032.
Policies and Plans
This Record of Determination (RoD) has been undertaken in accordance with Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (RSA EIA Regulations) along with Transport Scotland’s Environmental Impact Assessment Guidance (Guidance – Environmental Impact Assessments for road projects (transport.gov.scot)). Relevant guidance, policies and plans accompanied with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB)) LA 101 and LA 104 were used to form this assessment.