Description of local environment

Air Quality

The scheme is located along the M74 between Junction 6 and Junction 7. The surrounding area is characterised as semi‑rural, with approximately 40 residential properties located within 200m of the scheme extents. The closest residential receptor is situated approximately 80m to the south along Valleyfield Crescent. No non‑residential air quality receptors are located within 200m of the scheme.

South Lanarkshire Council have declared two Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA), however none are located within the scheme extents.

Baseline air quality is mainly influenced by vehicles travelling along the M74 carriageway. In 2024, the Average Annual Daily Flow (AADF) for all motor vehicles on the M74, approximately 1.5km northwest from the scheme extents (Manual Count point 50705) was 68,057 with 9,837 of those being Heavy Good Vehicles (HGVs).

According to the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) there are no registered sites for air pollutant releases located within 1km of the works. There are also no air quality monitoring sites located within 200m of the works. 

Cultural Heritage

A desk-based assessment was undertaken using Pastmap. No statutory cultural heritage features are located within the scheme footprint or within the 300m study area.

An area of 200m was used for non-designated cultural heritage assets these include:

  • Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment: Ferniegair, Hamilton (ref: 6763) Historic Environment Record (HER) located approx. 11m south from the scheme extents.
  • Allanton (ref: 69567) HER, located approx. 50m south from the scheme extents.

Landscape and Visual Effects

The scheme is located along the M74 within an area predominantly characterised by agricultural land use with some residential properties situated to the south carriageway. These residential properties will not have a view of the works as there is a vegetation barrier along this stretch of the carriageway in these areas.

A desktop study using Scotland’s Environment Map has highlighted that the scheme is not situated within a National Park (NP), National Scenic Area (NSA), Conservation Area, or Garden & Designed Landscapes. There are no ancient woodlands or Tree Preservation Order (TPO)’s located within 500m of the scheme.

The Scottish Landscape Character Assessment map has identified the land character type as Broad River Valley. This Landscape Character Type comprises the stretch of the River Clyde valley between Hamilton and Crossford. It occurs between the more urban stretch of the valley to the north and the more incised reaches to the south (beyond Crossford).

Biodiversity

A desktop study using Sitelink has identified the European designated site Clyde Valley Woods Special Area of Conservation (SAC) (8224) located approximately 1.5km west. Therefore, a Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) is required.

No nationally designated sites, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or Local Nature Reserves, were identified by Sitelink within 1km of the scheme extents.

The NBN Atlas desk study also identified records of Invasive Non‑Native Species (INNS) within 500m of the scheme extents along the M74 corridor, however none have been identified within the scheme extents. These include:

  • Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica),
  • Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera),
  • Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum).

In addition, a search of Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) online mapping tool identified the presence of target species along the M74 verge, including rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium), common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris), and creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense), occurring intermittently within the road boundary.

An ecological field survey was undertaken along the M74 on 1st May 2026.

Geology and Soils

SiteLink notes there are no Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS), or geological SSSIs or Local Geodiversity Sites (LGS) within 500m of scheme extents.

The British Geology Viewer notes the soil geology within the scheme extents consists of the following: 

Superficial deposits 

  • Glaciolacustrine deposits-Clay, silt and sand. These sedimentary deposits are glaciolacustrine in origin. They are detrital, generally fine-grained (but locally coarser), they form beds, plains and fans associated with meltwater flowing into ephemeral lakes (icebound).

Bedrock geology

  • Scottish Middle Coal Measures Formation-Sedimentary rock cycles, Coal Measure type. These sedimentary rocks are fluvial, palustrine and shallow-marine in origin. They are detrital, forming deposits reflecting the channels, floodplains and deltas of a river in a coastal setting (with periodic inundation from the sea).

Scotland’s Soil Map has highlighted that the soil located within the scheme extents consists of Brown earths and Noncalcareous gleys.

The Historic Land Use Assessment (HLA) Map highlights that the landscape surrounding the scheme consists of Motorway and Major Roads, Opencast/Mining/Quarry Site, Plantation, Railway Features, Designed Landscape and Rectilinear Fields and Farms.

Material Assets and Waste

The materials required for construction stage consist of:

  • Road surfacing (aggregate and binder);
  • TS2010 surface course;
  • AC20 bituminous binder;
  • AC32 bituminous base;
  • Warm mix asphalt
  • Bitumen;
  • Road paint and studs;
  • Lubricant;
  • Vehicle fuel;
  • Oil;

TS2010 surface course allows a wider array of aggregate sources to be considered when compared to typical 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 source18 

A proportion of RAP is used in asphalt production. Typical RAP values for base and binder are 10% - 15% with up to 10% in surface course.

Where practical, all materials will comply with Transport Scotland’s amendment to the Specification for Highway Works, Clause 908TS Warm Mix Asphalt, which sets out performance requirements for WMA mixtures.

The wastes likely to be produced include:

  • Asphalt planings 
  • Vegetation from siding out; 
  • Road paint 
  • 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 SEPA document ‘Guidance on the Production of Fully Recoverable Asphalt Road Planings’.

Coring investigations have not identified the presence of coal tar within treatment depths.

A Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) will be prepared prior to the works due to the scheme exceeding £350,000 in value.

Noise and Vibration

The scheme is located along the M74 between Junction 6 and Junction 7. The surrounding area is characterised as semi‑rural, with approximately 100 residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents. The closest residential receptor is situated approximately 80m to the south along Valleyfield Crescent. No non‑residential noise receptors are located within 200m of the scheme.

Baseline noise is mainly influenced by vehicles travelling along the M74 carriageway. In 2024 the AADF for all motor vehicles on the M74, approximately 1.5km northwest from the scheme extents (Manual Count point 50705) was 68,057 with 9,837 of those being HGVs.

According to the Transportation Noise Action Plan (TNAP) 2019-2023 and 2024 - 2028 the scheme extents are not located within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA).

According to Scotland Noise Map, existing noise levels within the scheme extents range from approximately 67dB to 76dB (Lday) during daytime hours and from 63dB to 73dB (Lnight) at night. At the nearest identified receptor, baseline noise is recorded at around 57dB during the day and 53dB during the night, providing a representative indication of current acoustic conditions in the area. 

Population and Human Health

A 300m study area was considered appropriate due to the like-for-like nature of the works. The scheme is located along the M74 between Junction 6 and Junction 7. The surrounding area is characterised as semi‑rural, with approximately 100 residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents. The closest residential receptor is situated approximately 80m to the south along Valleyfield Crescent. There are no community facilities located within 300m of the scheme.

According to South Lanarkshire Core Path Plan, there are no core paths located within 300m of the scheme extents. There are also no footpaths located along the scheme extents and no National Cycle routes or bridleways located within 300m of the scheme.

There are no bus stops located within this section of the M74. No street lighting is present within the scheme extents; however, a single layby is located within the works area. There are no agricultural field access points within the scheme extents., with the nearest agricultural field located approximately 40m north of the works.

Road Drainage and the Water Environment

According to Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)’s water classification Hub River Clyde (Mouse Water to Strathclyde Loch outflow) (ID: 10919) is located approximately 200m north from the scheme. This watercourse has a ‘good’ overall ecological status.

SEPA Flood Maps highlight that there is a small section along the scheme extents that has a high likelihood of river flooding. This suggests that each year this area has a 10% chance of flooding.

The groundwater within the scheme extents comprises of Glasgow and Motherwell groundwater (ID: 150677). This has a ‘poor’ overall ecological status. This is not listed as drinking water protected area. The scheme is not located within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone as defined by the Scottish Government. 

Road drainage along the scheme extents comprise of top entry gullies at both sides of the carriageway.

Climate

Carbon Goals

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, as amended by the Scottish Carbon Budgets Amendment Regulations 2025 sets out the statutory framework for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Scotland. The prior annual and interim targets have been replaced by five-year carbon budgets, which sets limits on the amount of GHGs that can be emitted in Scotland.

The proposed carbon budgets are aligned with advice from the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) and calculated in accordance with the 2009 Act. The 2025 Regulations define the baseline years for emissions reductions as 1990 for greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, and 1995 for others such as hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulphur hexafluoride (as set out in Section 11 of the Act). The budgets are as follows:

  • 2026 - 2030: Average emissions to be 57% lower than baseline.
  • 2031 - 2035: Average emissions to be 69% lower than baseline.
  • 2036 - 2040: Average emissions to be 80% lower than baseline.
  • 2041 - 2045: Average emissions to be 94% lower than baseline.

Monitoring, Management and Opportunities

To support our journey towards carbon neutral and zero waste we include potential opportunities for enhancement utilising circular economy principals within assessment of material assets.

Amey (working on behalf of Transport Scotland) undertake carbon monitoring. Emissions from our activities are recorded using Transport Scotland’s Carbon Management System.

Further information identifying how Amey will obtain the above Carbon Goals can be viewed within the Carbon Management and Sustainability Plan Roadmap to net-zero: STRNMC – South West.