Description of local environment

Air quality

Receptors – refer to ‘Population and Human Health’.

A search of the Air Quality in Scotland online mapping records that air quality monitoring sites 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 Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) within its administrative boundary. The closest AQMA lies within the boundary of Falkirk Council, ‘Falkirk Town Centre’, approx. 15.8km northwest of the scheme and has been declared for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10).

There are nine sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) for pollutant releases to air within 10km of the scheme within the last 10 years:

  • Beeches Poultry Farm, Longridge, Bathgate – Intensive Livestock Production and Aquaculture, declared for ammonia, located approx. 3.5km southwest of the scheme.
  • Stepend Poultry Farm, West Calder, West Lothian – Intensive Livestock Production and Aquaculture, declared for ammonia, located approx. 4km southeast of the scheme.
  • Shin-Etsu Handotai, Wilson Road, Livingston – Chemical Industry, declared for ammonia, located approx. 4.5km northeast of the scheme.
  • Rusha Poultry Farm, West Calder – Intensive Livestock Production and Aquaculture, declared for ammonia, located approx. 5.6km south of the scheme.
  • Bathgate Compressor Station (Site 2) – Energy Sector, declared for carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), located approx. 7.4km northwest of the scheme.
  • LREL – Levenseat, By Forth, Lanark – Waste and Waste-Water Management, declared for antimony, arsenic, chromium, copper and dioxins and furans as ITEQ, located approx. 8.1km southwest of the scheme.
  • Levenseat Waste Management Site – Waste and Waste-Water Management, declared for CO2 and methane, located approx. 8.2km southwest of the scheme.
  • Wyman Gordon Limited, Livingston – Production and Processing of Metals, declared for carbon dioxide (CO2), located approx. 8.3m northeast of the scheme.
  • API Foils, Houstoun Industrial Estate, Livingston – Other Activities, declared for NMVOCs and toluene, located approx. 8.3km northeast of the scheme.

Baseline air quality in the study area is mainly influenced by vehicles travelling along the M8 trunk road. Secondary sources are derived from vehicles travelling along nearby local network roads and day-to-day woodland and agricultural land management activities.

Cultural heritage

The PastMap and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) online mapping tools records no designated sites within 300m of the scheme extents.

Of lesser cultural heritage value, ten undesignated cultural heritage assets (UCHAs) lie within 300m of the scheme extents, the closest of which lies approx. 110m south of the scheme:

  • Blackburn National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) and Historic Environment Record (HER).

Construction of the M8 carriageway 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 is therefore assessed to be low.

While ten UCHAs are located within 300m of the scheme extents, the works will be restricted to the existing M8 westbound carriageway boundary and as such, will not be at risk of impacting these features. Therefore, there is no potential for impacts to cultural heritage from the proposed works and this topic has been scoped out of further environmental assessment.

Landscape and visual effects

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

The Landscape Character Type (LCT) within the study area is ‘Lowland Plateaux – Lothians’ (no. 273). The characteristics of which are:

  • Broadly undulating and open plateau landform, becoming more rolling to the south and east to form a series of craggy hills above Blackridge.
  • The principal rivers form shallow valleys, with more deeply incised tributaries.
  • A pastoral landscape with post and wire fences, thin hedges and windswept shelterbelts.
  • Important wetland habitats and lowland peat bogs.
  • Scattered woodland consisting of small areas of coniferous, deciduous and mixed species.
  • Evidence of historical mining activity, leaving highly visible traces in the red shale bings.
  • Widespread residential and commercial development, as well as major transport corridors.
  • A landscape with extensive presence of modern human development and infrastructure.

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

  • Motorway and major roads.
  • Rectilinear fields and farms.
  • Recreation area.
  • Rough grazing.
  • Industrial or commercial area.
  • Restored agricultural land.
  • Urban area.

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

  • ‘Class 3.2’ - Land capable of average production though high yields of barley, oats and grass can be obtained. Grass leys are common.
  • ‘Class ‘4.2’ - Land capable of producing a narrow range of crops, primarily on grassland with short arable breaks of forage crops.
  • ‘Class 5.2’ - Land capable of use as improved grassland. Few problems with pasture establishment but may be difficult to maintain.

There are three areas of lowland mixed deciduous woodland on the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland (NWSS) within 300m of the scheme extents:

  • 1.86ha lies approx. 32m south of the scheme.
  • 1.2ha lies approx. 121m south of the scheme.
  • 6.5ha lies approx. 145m southwest of the scheme.

In addition, the following woodland lies within 300m of the scheme extents:

  • Assumed woodland (approx. 1ha total).
  • Conifer woodland (approx. 3.3ha total).
  • Broadleaved woodland (approx. 1.8ha total).

There are no areas of woodland on the Ancient Woodland Inventory Scotland within 300m of the scheme extents and there are no trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) with connectivity to the scheme extents.

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 tool identifies that the scheme lies 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. The Firth of Forth SPA and Ramsar Site lies approx. 15.3km north of the scheme extents and Westwater SPA and Ramsar Site lies approx. 19km southeast of the scheme.

Three Local Nature Conservation Sites (LNCS) lie within 300m of the scheme extents:

  • Swinabbey Moss LNCS lies adjacent to the westbound carriageway within the scheme extents.
  • River Almond – Whitburn LNCS lies approx. 15m south of the scheme.
  • Pottishaw Road Ponds LNCS lies approx. 20m north of the scheme.

There are no Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) designated for biodiversity features within 300m of the scheme extents.

While not within 300m, the Firth of Forth SSSI underpins the SPA. In addition, Westwater Reservoir SSSI underpins Westwater SPA.

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

Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS):

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

Injurious Weeds:

  • Broadleaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius).
  • Common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris).
  • Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense).
  • Curled dock (Rumex crispus).
  • Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare).

Invasive Native Perennial:

  • Rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium).

The closest record pertains to injurious weed common ragwort approx. 0.1km south of the scheme (recorded 2019).

A search of the Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) online mapping tool records invasive native perennial rosebay willowherb (recorded 2014, 2018) intermittently throughout the verge within the scheme extents.

Habitat immediately bordering the trunk road 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 within the scheme extents are comprised of strips of managed grassland bordered by broadleaved tree and shrub shelterbelt and woodland areas. The presence of the trunk road is likely to restrict continuity of, and connectivity between, habitats either side of the trunk road boundary.

Outwith the trunk road boundary, a distribution park lies north of the scheme and an industrial estate lies northeast of the scheme, with urban developments southwest, south and southeast of the scheme. In addition, agricultural land lies north and south of the scheme. The areas of agricultural land management restrict the occurrence of semi-natural and natural vegetation types. Most field boundaries are comprised of wooden fencing and vegetative features further delineating field boundaries e.g., woodland, shrub, hedgerow, rough grassland, ruderal herb stands and scrub. Linear features at field boundaries have wildlife value, both as corridors in an intensively managed landscape, and as habitats for birds and small animals.

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 the generalised soil type beneath the scheme extents as the following:

  • Brown Soils.
  • Mineral Gleys.
  • Alluvial Soils.

The major soil groups beneath the scheme extents are:

  • Brown Soils.
  • Alluvial Soils.
  • Basin Peats.

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

  • Superficial deposits, Sediment.

The bedrock geology within the scheme extents is recorded as:

  • Passage Formation, Sedimentary Rock Cycles (Clackmannan Group Type).
  • Castlecary Limestone, Limestone.
  • Upper Limestone Formation, Sedimentary Rock Cycles (Clackmannan Group Type).
  • Calmy Limestone, Limestone.
  • Orchard Limestone, Limestone.
  • Index Limestone (Scotland), Limestone.
  • Limestone Coal Formation, Sedimentary Rock Cycles (Clackmannan 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.

The works will be limited to the like-for-like replacement of the existing M8 carriageway boundary and depth. There are no geological designated features within or in close proximity to the scheme extents. Therefore, it is considered that there is no potential for impacts to geology and soils and this topic has been scoped out of further assessment.

Material assets and waste

The proposed works are required to replace the worn carriageway surface and reinstate road markings.

Materials used will consist of:

  • TS2010 Surface Course, 10mm aggregate Site Class 1.
  • AC20 Dense Binder 40/60.
  • Weatherline Road Markings.
  • Surface Embedded Road Studs.

As the value of the scheme is greater than £350,000, a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is required for this scheme.

The 1550m scheme involves removal of surface course and localised areas of binder. In total, approx. 580 tonnes of bituminous material (European Waste Catalogue Code: 17 03 02) will be removed from site, none of which is classified as hazardous material containing coal tar.

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 (LNGT) ranges between 65 and 75 decibels (dB) within the scheme extents (Scotland’s Noise), with levels remaining at the nearest noise sensitive receptor (NSR) (i.e., residential property).

The baseline noise and vibration within the scheme extents is primarily influenced by vehicles travelling along the M8 trunk road. Secondary sources most likely arise from day-to-day agricultural activities and from motor vehicles travelling along nearby roads.

Population and human health

Numerous residential properties lie within 300m of the scheme extents, the closest of which lies approx. 40m southeast of the scheme and is fully screened from the scheme by tree shelterbelt.

Of note, Hopefield Nursery School lies approx. 136m southeast of the scheme and Blackburn Primary School lies approx. 171m southeast of the scheme.

There are no non-motorised user (NMU) or community facilities with connectivity to the scheme extents.

Street lighting is not present within the scheme extents.

The M8, within the scheme extents, is a motorway with the national speed limit applying throughout. The Annual Average Daily (AADT) flow is high (64,704 motor vehicles) (ID: 80500, 2024).

Road drainage and the water environment

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) River Basin Management Plan online mapping tool records one classified surface waterbody within 300m of the scheme extents:

  • River Almond (Source to Foulshiels Burn confluence) is a river, in the River Almond catchment of the Scotland river basin district (ID: 3003). The main stem is approximately 18.4km in length and lies approx. 55m south of the scheme and is classified as being in ‘Poor’ condition.

Ten unclassified waterbodies lie within 300m of the scheme extents:

  • Drain1 lies below the scheme extents, with connectivity to Pottishaw Road Ponds and is separated from the scheme by roadside verge and tree shelterbelt.
  • Drain2 lies approx. 28m south of the scheme and is separated from the scheme by roadside verge and tree shelterbelt.
  • Pond1 lies approx. 39m north of the scheme and is separated from the scheme by roadside verge and tree shelterbelt.
  • Drain3 lies approx. 50m north of the scheme.
  • Pond2 lies approx. 60m south of the scheme.
  • Drain4 lies approx. 109m south of the scheme and is a tributary of the River Almond.
  • Drain5 lies approx. 120m southwest of the scheme and is a tributary of the River Almond.
  • Pond3 lies approx. 125m north of the scheme.
  • Drain6 lies approx. 210m south of the scheme and is a tributary of the River Almond.
  • Drain7 lies approx. 257m southwest of the scheme.

A search of the SEPA’s Flood Map online mapping tool records that a section of the M8 within the scheme extents is at a low – medium risk of surface water flooding (i.e., each year this area has a 0.1 – 0.5% chance of flooding). In addition, a small section within the scheme extents is also it a high risk of surface water flooding (i.e., each year this area has a 10% chance of flooding).

A search of Scotland's Environment (SE) online mapping tool determined that the trunk road lies on the ‘Whitburn’ groundwater which has been classified as being in ‘Good’ condition and the ‘Forth’ groundwater, which has been classified as being in ‘Poor’ condition.

The scheme extents do 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).