Assessments of the environmental effects

The M8 East of Whitburn Westbound scheme has connectivity to two European Sites due to lying within the buffer zone of several of the qualifying species of the Firth of Forth SPA and Ramsar Site and Westwater SPA and Ramsar Site and as such, an HRA has been undertaken. The HRA concluded that there will be no Likely Significant Effects (LSE) on the designated sites, and as such an Appropriate Assessment (AA) is not required.

As detailed in the Description of Main Environmental Impacts and Proposed Mitigation section, there are no significant effects anticipated on any environmental receptors as a result of the proposed works.