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 show air quality monitoring sites in the wider areas recording bandings within the ‘green zone’ (Low Index 1-3).

The scheme is located within the City of Edinburgh Council boundary which reports five active Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) within its administrative boundary. The closest AQMA, “Glasgow Road 2013” is located approx. 1km northwest of the scheme extents and is declared for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).

There are 12 sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) for air pollutant releases within 10km of the scheme extents in the last 10 years. Their details are as follows:

“Gogarbank Poultry, Corstorphine, Edinburgh” - Intensive livestock production and aquaculture – declared for ammonia and PM₁₀ – located approximately 0.6km north of the scheme extents.
“Hillwood Quarry, Ratho, Midlothian” – Mineral industry – declared for carbon dioxide and particulate matter <10 microns in diameter (PM₁₀) – located approximately 0.7km north of the scheme extents.
“Clifton Poultry Farm, Clifton Road, Newbridge” - Intensive livestock production and aquaculture – declared for ammonia – located approximately 1.9km west of the scheme extents.
“Ravelrig Quarry Kirknewton, Midlothian” – Mineral industry – declared for PM₁₀ and PM₅ – located approximately 3.8km south of the scheme extents.
“Clapperton Poultry Complex, Broxburn, West Lothian” - intensive livestock production and aquaculture – declared for ammonia, PM₁₀, and total particulate matter – located approximately 4.1km southwest of the scheme extents.
“Kaimes Quarry Landfill Site, Kirknewton” – Waste and waste-water management – declared for methane – located approximately 4.7km south of the scheme extents.
“MacFarlan Smith Limited, Wheatfield Road, Edinburgh” – Chemical industry – declared for NMVOCs and toluene – located approximately 5.3km east of the scheme extents.
“North British Distillery, Wheatfield Road, Edinburgh” – Animal and vegetable products from the food and beverage sector – declared for carbon dioxide, HFCs, and NMVOCs – located approximately 5.4km northeast of the scheme extents.
“Dalmeny Hound Point, South Queensferry” – Energy sector – declared for non-methane volatile organic compounds (NVMOCs) – located approximately 5.4km north of the scheme extents.
“Balerno Poultry Farm, Lanark Road West, Balerno” – Intensive livestock production and aquaculture – declared for ammonia – located approximately 5.5km south of the scheme extents.
“API Foils, Houstoun Ind Est, Livingston” - Other activities – declared for non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) (t) and toluene (kg) – located approximately 7km southwest of the scheme extents.
“Wyman Gordon Ltd, Livingston” - Production and processing of metals – declared for carbon dioxide (kt) – located approximately 7km southwest of the scheme extents.

Baseline air quality within the scheme extents is likely to be primarily influenced by traffic along the M8 carriageway. Secondary sources are most commonly derived from motor vehicles travelling along local network roads and day-to-day agricultural activities. The Edinburgh to Falkirk railway line is located approx. 90m north of the scheme at the nearest point therefore occasional train movements will also have an impact.

Cultural heritage

The PastMap and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) online mapping tools record 17 designated cultural heritage assets within 300m of the scheme extents, one conservation area and one scheduled monument.

The “Hermiston” Conservation Area lies approx. 80m south of the scheme extents at its closest point.
The “Union Canal, Fountainbridge to River Almond” Scheduled Monument lies approx. 80m south of the scheme extents at its closest point.
There are 14 Listed Buildings located within 300m of the scheme extents, the closest of which is located 80m south.
The “Ratho” Conservation Area lies approx. 270m south of the scheme extents at its closest point.

Of lesser concern, there are in excess of 50 undesignated cultural heritage assets (UCHAs) are located within 300m of the scheme extents. Of these, two lie within the scheme extents:

The “Roddinglaw” Historic Environment Record (HER) (Classification: pit; standing stone).
The “Roddinglaw” NRHE (Classification: pit (period unassigned), standing stone (prehistoric)).

Construction of the M8 is likely to have removed any archaeological remains that may have been present within the trunk road 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, that no designated cultural heritage features are located within 80m of the scheme, 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 scheme extents is categorised as “Lowland Plain” (LCT – 274), “Lowland Plain” has the following key characteristics:

Smoothly rolling, large scale agricultural plain with local interruptions of volcanic hills forming visual foci.
Rivers cut through the farmland in incised valleys.
High quality agricultural land with a predominantly rural character, divided into a strong pattern of large arable fields by fences, hedges, occasional walls and a network of shelterbelts.
Policy woodlands and shelterbelts associated with designed landscapes, mansions, gatehouses and boundary walls contributing to character.
Numerous villages and hamlets, including industrial settlements.
Substantial but localised urban fringe influence around Edinburgh Airport, motorways and settlement expansion.
Gentle sinuous sweep of the Union Canal as it leaves Edinburgh and heads north west.
Industrial heritage legacy, with prominent quarrying, landfill and shale bing impacts.
Important setting for western Edinburgh.

The Historic Land-use Assessment (HLA) classifies the land-use within 300m of the scheme extents as:

Motorway and Major Roads,
Rectilinear Fields and Farms,
Quarry,
Rough Grazing,
Urban Area,
Designed Landscape, and
Industrial or Commercial Area.

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 3.1” - Land capable of producing consistently high yields of a narrow range of crops and/ or moderate yields of a wider range. Short grass leys are common.
“Class 4.1” - Land capable of producing a narrow range of crops, primarily grassland with short arable breaks of forage crops and cereal.

Woodland with connectivity to the trunk road within the scheme extents consists of:

9.2ha of broadleaved woodland, approx. 3.5ha of which is recorded on the Native Woodland Survey Scotland (NWSS), which borders the EB carriageway within the scheme extents.
0.6ha of young tree woodland which borders the EB carriageway within the scheme extents
0.8ha of conifer woodland which borders the EB carriageway within the scheme extents
6.2ha of broadleaved woodland, approx. 3.5ha of which is recorded on the NWSS, which borders the WB carriageway within the scheme extents.
1.8ha of young tree woodland which borders the WB carriageway within the scheme extents
1.2ha of conifer woodland which borders the WB carriageway within the scheme extents
Numerous additional areas of woodland are located within 300m of the scheme.

There are no areas of ancient woodland recorded on the Ancient Woodland Inventory, with connectivity to the scheme extents, or any individual trees or areas of woodland covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) within 300m of the scheme extents. However, all trees with a trunk diameter greater than 75mm in the Ratho and Hermiston CA’s are protected.

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

Biodiversity

The NatureScot Sitelink online mapping tools identifies that the:

The Firth of Forth Special Protection Area (SPA) – EU Site Code: UK9020316 and Ramsar Site – EU Site Code: UK13017 are located approx. 7.2km north of the scheme extents at their closest point.
The Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrews Bay Complex SPA – EU Site Code: UK9020316 is located approximately 7.2km north of the scheme extents at its closest point.
The Westwater SPA – EU Site Code: UK9004251 and Ramsar Site – EU Site Code: UK13060 are located approximately 18.8km south of the scheme extents at their closest point.

The scheme is not situated within 2km of, and does not share connectivity with, any other ‘European Site’ designated for biodiversity features e.g., Special Area of Conservation (SAC), SPA, Ramsar.

Additionally, the Firth of Forth and Westwater SPAs are underpinned by Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

There are no SSSIs within 300m of the scheme extents.

Three Local Biodiversity Sites (LBSs) lie within 300m of the scheme extents:

The “Union Canal – Ratho to Hermiston” LBS lies approx. 45m south of the scheme extents at its closest point.
The “Gogar Burn – Union Canal to Fairview” LBS is spanned by the M8 within the scheme extents.
The “Union Canal - Wilkie's Basin to Ratho” – LBS is located approx. 300m south of the scheme at the nearest point.

The NBN atlas holds records of numerous bird species within 2km over a ten-year period. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) (WCA), all wild birds and their active nests are protected.

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

Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS):

Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum).

Invasive Native Perennials:

Rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium).

The closest of these to the scheme extents relates to that of giant hogweed which is located approx. 300m east of the scheme extents at its closest point.

A search of the Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) online mapping tool records the following plant species as listed within the NMC within the verge surrounding the scheme extents:

Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS):

Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum).

Injurious weeds:

Broad Leafed Dock (Rumex obtusifolius).

Invasive Native Perennials:

Rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium).

The habitat immediately bordering the M8 EB consists primarily of agricultural land and semi-mature broadleaved shelterbelts, with more agricultural fields, Hillwood Quarry and the Hermiston Gait industrial area in the wider area.

Outwith the trunk road boundary, agricultural land surrounding the scheme forms a pattern of open and exposed fields containing predominantly arable land. The result of this intensive agricultural land management is to restrict the occurrence of semi-natural and natural vegetation types. Most field boundaries are post-and -wire fencing, with vegetative features further delineating field boundaries e.g., shrub hedgerow, rough grassland, ruderal herb stands, scrub and tree shelterbelt. Linear features at field boundaries have wildlife value, both as corridors in an intensively managed landscape, and as habitats for birds and other small animals.

Geology and soils

There are no geological SSSIs or Geological Conservation Review Sites within 300m of the scheme extents (SiteLink). Additionally, there is one Local Geodiversity Sites (LGS) with in 300m of the scheme extents. Ratho LGS is located approx. 250m west of the western scheme extents.

The National Soil Map of Scotland online mapping tool records that the Generalised Soil Types within the study area are:

Mineral gleys.
Alluvial soils.
Brown soils.

The Major Soil Groups within the study area are:

Alluvial soils.
Brown soils.

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

Glaciofluvial Ice Contact Deposits - gravel, sand and silt.
Till - Devensian (Diamicton).
Alluvium - Clay, Silt, Sand and Gravel.

The bedrock geology within the scheme extents is recorded as:

Dinantian To Westphalian Sills of Lothians and Fife-Mafite.
Calders Member-Sedimentary rock cycles, Strathclyde Group type.
Midland Valley Sill-Complex-Quartz-microgabbro.
Gullane Formation-Sedimentary rock cycles, Strathclyde Group type.

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

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:

AC20 Dense Binder.
1260 tonnes of Cl948 (Ex-situ cold recycled bound material).
Bitumen Emulsion.
Hot Bitumen.
Marker Paint.
Cold Bitumen Sealant.
Tar Glue Remover.
Road Markings.
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. The main waste produced during the works will be bituminous materials which will be removed from site, none of which is classified as hazardous material containing coal tar.

While no coal tar will be removed, the scheme will use1,260 tonnes of coal tar bound planings from a separate BEAR Scotland scheme (M8 Jct 3 EB Offslip) which will undergo ex-situ recycling. The recycled planings will be used as binder material and will have surface course laid on top.

Noise and vibration

For properties within 300m of the scheme refer to “Population and Human Health.

The works do not fall within a Candidate Quiet Area (CQA).

The nighttime noise levels (LNGT) modelled within the scheme extents is greater than 80 decibels (dB), decreasing to between 75 and 80dB at the nearest noise sensitive receptor (residential) (Scotland’s Noise).

Baseline noise and vibration in the study area is mainly influenced by vehicles traveling along the M8 trunk road. Secondary sources are derived from vehicles travelling along nearby local network roads and day-to-day agricultural activities. The Edinburgh to Falkirk railway line is located approx. 90m north of the scheme at the nearest point therefore occasional train movements will also have an impact.

Population and human health

Numerous residential and commercial properties and one farmstead are located within 300m of the scheme extents. There are no residential properties within 50m of the scheme, with the closest located approx. 60m east of the scheme extents. Only two properties (closest located 70m north) are visible from the scheme extents and all other properties within 300m of the scheme are screened from the scheme extents by a combination of roadside shelterbelts, raised roadside embankments and woodland.

A bus lane is present alongside the eastbound carriageway replacing the hard shoulder throughout the majority of the scheme extents. There are no other non-motorised user (NMU) or community facilities with connectivity to the scheme extents.

Street lighting is absent throughout the scheme extents.

The scheme extents are located on the M8 carriageway, which is a motorway with the national speed limit applying throughout. The Average Daily Traffic (ADT) flow is moderate (34,309 motor vehicles (ID: CTC00007, 2026 data) (Transport Scotland)).

Road drainage and the water environment

There are two SEPA classified waterbodies within 300m of the scheme extents:

Gogar Burn (Union Canal to River Almond) (ID: 3004), main stem is approx. 8.9km in length. The water body has been designated as a heavily modified waterbody on account of physical alterations that cannot be addressed without a significant impact on the drainage of agricultural land and from an increased risk of subsidence or flooding and has an overall classification “Poor ecological potential”. It is culverted beneath the trunk road within the scheme extents.
Union canal (Craigton to Murray Burn) (ID: 8), main stem is approx. 19.8km in length. The waterbody has been designated as an artificial water body on account of physical alterations that cannot be addressed without a significant impact on navigation and has an overall classification of Good ecological potential. It is located approx. 80m south of the scheme extents at its closest point.

There are several unclassified waterbodies within 300m of the scheme extents. Only five are located within 50m of the scheme:

Waterbody1 is culverted beneath the trunk road within the scheme extents and is separated by raised roadside embankment and tree shelterbelt.
Waterbody2 is culverted beneath the trunk road within the scheme extents and is separated by raised roadside embankment and tree shelterbelt.
Waterbody3 is culverted beneath the trunk road within the scheme extents and is separated by raised roadside embankment and tree shelterbelt.
Pond 1 is located approx. 10m south of the scheme and is separated by raised roadside embankment and tree shelterbelt.
Drain1 is located approx. 20m south of the scheme (at the nearest point) and is separated by raised roadside embankment and tree shelterbelt.

A search of the SEPA Flood Map online mapping tool shows that the majority of the M8 within the scheme extents is at an increased flood risk. Most of the hard shoulder within the scheme extents have a flood risk ranging between low and high likelihood of flooding each year (0.1% - 10% chance).

The scheme extents lie within the “Livingston” groundwater body (ID: 150711), which was given an overall classification of “Poor”.

A search of the Scotland's Environment (SE) determined that the trunk road, within the scheme extents, does not lie within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).

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).

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