Description of local environment

Air quality

Properties within 300m of the scheme – refer to ‘Population and Human Health’.

A search of the Air Quality in Scotland online mapping tool records that the air quality zones in the wider area record bandings in the ‘green zone’ (Low Index 1-3).

The scheme lies within the boundary of West Lothian Council, which has no active and three revoked AQMA’s within its administrative boundary. The nearest AQMA is ‘Glasgow Road 2013’, found within the Edinburgh City Council area, which lies approx. 8km northeast of the scheme and has been declared for nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

There are 13 sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) for pollutant releases to air within 10km of the scheme, within the last 10 years. Details are as follows:

  • Wyman Gordon Limited, Livingston – production and processing of metals declared for carbon dioxide (kt) which lies approx. 0.9km southeast of the scheme.
  • API Foils, Houstoun Industrial Estate, Livingston – other activities declared for NMVOCs, toluene which lies approx. 1.3km southeast of the scheme.
  • Shin-Etsu Handotai, Wilson Road, Livingston – chemical industry declared for ammonia (t), which lies approx. 3.7km southwest of the scheme.
  • Clapperton Poultry Complex, Broxburn, West Lothian – intensive livestock and aquaculture production, declared for ammonia (t), particulate matter - PM10 and smaller (t) and particulate matter - total (t) which lies approx. 3.7km east of the scheme.
  • Stepend Poultry Farm, West Calder, West Lothian – intensive livestock and aquaculture production declared for ammonia (t) which lies approx. 5.8km southwest of the scheme.
  • Clifton Poultry Farm, Clifton Road, Newbridge – intensive livestock, declared for ammonia, PM10 which lies approx. 6.1km east of the scheme.
  • Hillwood Quarry, Ratho, Midlothian – mineral industry, declared for carbon dioxide (kt) and particulate matter - PM10 and smaller (t) which lies approx. 7.8km east of the scheme.
  • Kaimes Quarry Landfill Site, Kirknewton – waste and waste-water management, declared for methane which lies approx. 8.4km southeast of the scheme.
  • Ravelrig Quarry, Kirknewton, Midlothian – mineral industry, declared for particulate matter - PM10 and smaller (t) and particulates - PM2.5 and smaller only (t) which lies approx. 9.2km southeast of the scheme.
  • Balerno Poultry Farm, Lanark Rd West, Balerno – intensive livestock, declared for ammonia (t) which lies approx. 9.2km southeast of the scheme.
  • Rusha Poultry Farm, West Calder - intensive livestock, declared for ammonia (t) which lies approx. 10km southwest of the scheme.

The baseline air quality within the scheme extents is primarily influenced by motor vehicles travelling along the M8. Secondary sources are most commonly derived from motor vehicles travelling along local network roads and day-to-day urban and woodland management activities.

Cultural heritage

The PastMap and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) online mapping tool records Bangour Village Hospital Conservation Area is located 150m north of the scheme extents.

No other designated cultural heritage features are present within 300m of the scheme extents.

Of lesser cultural heritage value, seven undesignated cultural heritage assets (UCHAs) lie within 300m of the scheme extents. The closest of which is located 150m north of the scheme.

Construction of the M8 carriageway is likely to have removed any archaeological remains that may have been present within the motorway boundary. The potential for the presence of unknown archaeological remains in the study area has therefore been assessed to be low.

Given that the works will be restricted to the existing M8 carriageway boundary and depth and the distance to the closest cultural heritage feature, the potential for impacts to cultural heritage have been deemed negligible. As such cultural heritage has been scoped out of further environmental assessment.

Landscape and visual effects

The scheme is not situated within a National Park (NP) or National Scenic Area (NSA).

The Landscape Character Type (LCT) within the study area is ‘Urban’ (no. 0) (Scottish Landscape Character Types) which has no defining characteristics.

Land use within 300m of the scheme is categories into the following:

  • Rough Grazing.
  • Plantation.
  • Motorway and major roads.
  • Reservoir.
  • Designed Landscape.
  • Rectilinear Fields and Farms.
  • Holdings
  • Urban area.
  • Golf course.

The national scale land capability for agriculture classifies land surrounding the scheme as being:

  • ‘Class 2’ – Land capable of producing a wide range of crops.
  • ‘Class 888’ – Urban.

Woodland within 300m of the scheme extents is categorised into the following:

  • Approx 20ha of mixed conifer, broadleaved and young tree woodland borders the M8 EB within the scheme extents, approx. 1.8ha of this woodland is registered on the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland (NWSS).
  • Approx 28ha of conifer woodland borders the M8 WB within the scheme extents.
  • Approx. 1.5ha broadleaved woodland, which is registered on the NWSS, borders the M8 slip road within the scheme extents.
  • Approx. 4ha of conifer woodland is located 80m southeast of the scheme extents.
  • Approx. 1ha of broadleaved woodland is located 260m south of the scheme extents.

There are no areas registered on the Ancient Woodland Inventory Scotland or trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) within 300m of the scheme extents.

The existing motorway is a prominent linear landscape feature. The motorway corridor, for example, has a distinct character shaped by fast-flowing traffic, road markings, safety barriers, signage, landscaping and lighting. The scale of the motorway detracts from the quality and character of the wider landscape.

Biodiversity

The NatureScot Sitelink online mapping tool identifies that the scheme extents do not fall within 2km of any European Sites, nor do they share hydrological connectivity with any. However, they are located within the buffer zone of some qualifying species of the Firth of Forth Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar Site which lies approx. 9km north of the scheme extents. In addition, they are also within the buffer zone of some qualifying species of the Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrews Bay Complex SPA which lies approx. 13km northeast of the scheme extents.

There are no Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Local Nature Conservation Sites (LNCS) or Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) designated for biodiversity features within 300m of, or which share connectivity to, the scheme. However, the Firth of Forth SPA is underpinned by the Firth of Forth SSSI.

The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) online mapping tool holds records of numerous bird species within 2km over a ten-year period. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), all wild birds and their active nests (typically active March to August inclusive) are protected. No other species of conservation importance were recorded within 2km of the scheme, in the last 10 years. Only records with open-use attributions (OGL, CCO, CC-BY) were included in the search criteria.

A search of the NBN online mapping tool records the following species as listed within the Network Management Contract (NMC), within 2km of the scheme (in last 10-years):

Three invasive non-native species (INNS):

  • Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera).
  • Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica).
  • Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum).

Five injurious weeds (as listed under the Weeds Act 1959):

  • Curled dock (Rumex crispus).
  • Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense).
  • Broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius).
  • Common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea).

One invasive native perennial (as listed in the Trunk Road Inventory Manual):

  • Rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium).

The nearest record pertains to Himalayan balsam recorded 0.2km south of the scheme extents in 2021.

A search of the Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) online mapping tool records rosebay willowherb and common ragwort within the verge of the carriageway within the scheme extents (2014, 2017).

Habitat immediately bordering the motorway tends to be of low intrinsic value because the existing road verge is subject to cyclic maintenance e.g., grass cutting, weed control, tree, and shrub cut-back etc. The roadside verges therefore comprise a homogenous species-poor semi-improved grassland alongside intermittent broadleaved trees and shrub shelterbelt, with varied sections of woodland bordering the westbound and eastbound carriageways within the scheme extents. Roadside vegetation generally offers low ecological habitat value due to its limited scale, fragmented nature and high potential for disturbance owing to cyclic motorway landscape maintenance, and the proximity of the motorway (with its fast-flowing traffic). In addition, Deer Park Golf and Country Club lies approx. 20m south of the scheme and is comprised of area of amenity grassland and blocks of woodland. The motorway also restricts continuity of, and connectivity between, habitats either side of the motorway boundary.

Geology and soils

The M8 within the scheme extents is not located within a Geological Conservation Review Site (GCRS), and there are no Local Geodiversity Sites (LGS) within 300m of the scheme extents.

The National Soil Map of Scotland online mapping tool records that within the scheme extents the generalised soil types are Brown Soils and Mineral Gleys and the major soil groups are Brown Soils and Gleys.

The British Geological Survey online mapping tool records that the superficial geology within the scheme extents is comprised of:

  • Till, Devensian (Diamicton).

The bedrock geology within the scheme extents is recorded as:

  • Midland Valley Sill-Complex (quartz-microgabbro)
  • Hopetoun Member, Sedimentary Rock Cycles (Strathclyde Group Type).
  • Dunnet Sandstone (sandstone).

There is no evidence of historical industrial processes or the storage of hazardous materials that could have given rise to significant land contamination within the scheme extents.

Given the restriction of the works to the M8 carriageway boundary, and the lack of any earthworks, local geology and soils are unlikely to be affected by the proposed works. Therefore, geology and soils has been scoped out of further environmental assessment.

Material assets and waste

The proposed works are required to resurface the worn carriageway and reinstate road markings. Materials used will consist of:

  • TS2010 Surface Course,
  • EME2 14mm Binder,
  • EME2 20mm Base,
  • Regulating 6mm Material,
  • Glasstex P100 Grid,
  • Thermoplastic road markings, and
  • Surface mounted and milled road studs.

The scheme has a value greater than £350,000. As a result, a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is required.

The scheme involves removal of the surface course and localised areas of binder and base. The main waste produced during the works will be 2425 tonnes of bituminous materials (European Waste Catalogue Code: 17 03 03) which will be removed from site, 578 tonnes of which is classified as hazardous material containing coal tar. Due to the presence of coal tar waste will be appropriately processed of in line with Transport Scotland’s Guidance Note on dealing with coal tar bound arisings (Coal Tar Guidance).

Noise and vibration

Receptors – refer to ‘Population and Human Health’.

Works are not located within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) or Candidate Quiet Areas (CQA).

The night-time modelled noise level (LNIGHT) within the scheme extents ranges between 75 and 80 decibels (dB) dropping to between ranges between 70 and 75 dB at the nearest noise sensitive receptor (NSR) (hotel property) (Scotland’s Noise Scotland’s Environment).

Baseline noise and vibration in the study area is mainly influenced by vehicles travelling along the trunk road. Secondary sources are derived from vehicles travelling along the local road network, day-to-day urban, woodland and agricultural land management activities.

Population and human health

There are several properties (residential, business and industrial) that lie within 300m of the scheme extents. There are no properties within 50m of the scheme with the nearest residential property found approx. 185m south. Of note, Premier Inn Livingston (M8, Jct3) Hotel is located 100m south of the scheme at the eastern extents. The majority of properties are fully screened from the scheme by a combination of tree shelterbelt, woodland, intervening road network and topography. However, Premier Inn Livingston (M8, Jct3) Hotel only receives partial screening via shelterbelt plantation and is partially visible from the M8 within the scheme extents. In addition, the adjacent Veterinary Specialists Scotland and residential properties along Eagle View also only have partial screening.

Core Path 31 passes below the M8 within the scheme extents. There are no other non-motorised users (NMU) or community facilities present within, or that have connectivity to, the scheme extents.

Street lighting is present along both the EB and WB verges throughout the scheme extents.

The M8, within the scheme extents is a two-lane motorway with continuous hard shoulder and national speed limit applying. The Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) flow is moderate (24,185 motor vehicles (ID: JTC00296, 2025).

Road drainage and the water environment

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) River Basin Management Plan online mapping tool records no classified surface waterbodies located within 300m of the scheme extents.

There are five unclassified waterbodies, considered to be minor tributaries or drainage channels located within 300m of the scheme extents:

  • Drain1 is located approx. 10m south of the scheme.
  • Drain2 is located approx. 60m southwest of the scheme.
  • Pond1 is located approx. 110m north of the scheme.
  • Drain3 is located approx. 200m east of the scheme.
  • Beugh Burn is located approx. 300m southeast of the scheme.

A search of the SEPA’s Flood Map online mapping tool records that a small area at the eastern extents of the M8 EB within the scheme extents is at a low to high risk of surface water flooding (i.e., each year the area has a 0.1% to 10% chance of flooding).

A search of the Scotland’s Environment (SE) online mapping tool determined that the motorway, within the scheme extents, lies on the ‘Livingston’ groundwater, which has been classified as ‘Poor’.

A search of the SE online mapping tool determined that the motorway, within the scheme extents, does not lie within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone.

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).