Description of Local Environment

Air Quality

The scheme is located within an urban area of Renfrewshire surrounded by industrial buildings and retail parks. There are approximately 500 residential properties located within 200m of the scheme extents, the closest one being 35m north located on Cairn Avenue. There are further air quality receptors located within 200m these include:

  • Arkleston Primary School located approx. 190m northwest from the start of the scheme
  • Premier Inn Glasgow Braehead hotel approx. 85m north.
  • Harmony Row Youth Club located approx. 70m north.

Renfrewshire Council have declared three Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) all out side of the scheme extents, these include:

  • Paisley AQMA located approx. 3.5km south from the works declared pollutants such as Nitrogen dioxide NO2, and Particulate Matter PM10.
  • Johnston High Street located approx. 9km southwest from the works declared pollutants such as Nitrogen dioxide NO2.
  • Renfrew Town Centre located approx. 1.5km northwest from the works declared pollutants such as Nitrogen dioxide NO2

Baseline air quality is predominantly influenced by vehicle traffic along the M8. The closest manual count point 80221 within the scheme extents highlights the Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) of traffic for all motor vehicles in 2023 was 97,242 motor vehicles with 4,614 of those being Heavy Good Vehicles (HGVs).

According to the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) there are two records located within 1km of the works. These are:

  • Princes’ Beverage distributor (Animal and Vegetable products from the food and beverage sector) located approx. 770m east from the works.
  • Shieldhall Waste Transfer Station (waste and waste-water management) located approx. 1km east from the works.

Cultural Heritage

A desk-based assessment was undertaken using Pastmap. A study area of 300m was used for designated cultural heritage assets however none were identified. An area of 200m was used for non-designated cultural heritage assets. See Table 1 below for full details.

Table 1: Non-Designated Cultural Heritage Assets within 200m

Name

Reference Number

Description

Distance from Scheme

Renfrew Golf Course

Ref: 44206

Ref: 8698

Canmore & Historical Environmental Record (HER)

112m north

Deanfield

Ref: 92679

Ref: 19090

Canmore & HER

130m north

Renfrew, Braehead Retail Park, Archaeological Survey; Trial Excavations

Ref: 723

HER

46m north

Glasgow, Hillington

Ref: 359919

Canmore

140m south

Landscape and Visual Effects

The lack of vegetation screening along certain sections of the scheme extents and the raised elevation of the M8, suggests that residential properties and surrounding businesses as well as any recreational paths will have a view of the works. 

According to Scotland’s Environment Map there are no ancient woodlands and tree preservation orders within 500m of the works. The scheme is not located within a national scenic area.

The Landscape Character Type (LCTs) Map identifies the Landscape Character Assessment as ‘Urban’.

The Historic Landscape Assessment (HLA) Map identified that the land surrounding the scheme extents has previously been classified as ‘rough grazing’ areas.

Pastmap has not identified any Garden & Designed Landscapes within 500m of the scheme extents.

Biodiversity

Sitelink does not highlight any European designated sites located within 2km of the scheme extents. Sitelink has not identified the presence of national designations (such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or Local Nature Reserves) within 1km of the scheme extents.

There are some scattered shrubs located along the verge of the M8 which has the potential to support nesting birds.

The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas has highlighted the following Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) within 500m of the works, however, no INNS have been identified within the scheme extents:

  • Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) located approx. 300m north.
  • Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) located approx. 300m north.

The NBN Atlas has not identified any protected species within 500m of the works.

A search of Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) online mapping tool highlights the following target species, Rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium), Common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris), Broad leaf dock (Rumex obtusifolius) scattered along the verge of the M8.

A competent ecologist has ruled out the need for a site visit due to the urban location and nature of the works.

Geology and Soils

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

Due to the urban nature of the scheme extents, Scotland Soil Map has not identified any soil data within the scheme extents.

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

Superficial deposits

  • Superficial Deposits - Sediment. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 2.588 million years ago and the present during the Quaternary period.
  • River Terrace Deposits - Gravel, sand and silt. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 2.588 million years ago and the present during the Quaternary period.

Bedrock geology

  • Top Hosie Limestone - Limestone. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 330.9 and 328 million years ago during the Carboniferous period.
  • Limestone Coal Formation - Sedimentary rock cycles, clackmannan group type. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 329 and 328 million years ago during the Carboniferous period.
  • Lower Limestone Formation - Sedimentary rock cycles, clackmannan group type. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 330.9 and 328 million years ago during the Carboniferous period.

The excavations will be shallow and therefore not be deep enough to affect the superficial deposits or bedrock. Also, as the works will be restricted to the existing carriageway boundary and previously engineered layers, it has been determined that the project does not carry the potential to cause direct or indirect impact to geology or soils. As such, no significant impacts are anticipated, and geology and soils has been scoped out of requiring further assessment.

Material Assets and Waste

Table 2: Key materials required for activities

Activity

Material Required

Origin/Content

Site Construction

Bituminous surfacing materials (TS2010 binder/base);

Vehicle fuel;

Road marking materials and studs;

Oil; and

Lubricant.

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

TS2010 surface course allows a wider array of aggregate sources to be considered when compared to typical Stone Mastic Asphalt (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 sources.

All of the materials listed will contain a % of recycled material. The rest will come from primary sources.

Table 3: Key wastes arising from activities

Activity

Waste Arising

Disposal/Regulation

Site Construction

Asphalt Planings

Uncontaminated road planings generated as a result of the works, will be fully recycled in accordance with the criteria stipulated within the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) document ‘Guidance on the Production of Fully Recoverable Asphalt Road Planings’.

Following on-site coring investigations and testing, no coal-tar was identified within the surfacing of the carriageway within the scheme extent.

The Contractor is responsible for the disposal of road planings and this has been registered in accordance with a Paragraph 13(a) waste exemption issued by SEPA, as described in Schedule 3 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 2011.

Noise and Vibration

The scheme is located an urban area within Renfrewshire surrounded by industrial buildings and retail parks. There are approximately 700 residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents, the closest one being 35m north located on Cairn Avenue. There are further noise sensitive receptors located within 300m these include:

  • Arkleston Primary School located approx. 190m northwest
  • Premier Inn Glasgow Braehead hotel approx. 85m north.
  • Harmony Row Youth Club located approx. 70m north.

Baseline noise levels are influenced by vehicle traffic along the M8. The closest manual count point 80221 within the scheme extents highlights the Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) of traffic for all motor vehicles in 2023 was 97,242 motor vehicles with 4,614 of those being Heavy Good Vehicles (HGVs).

According to The Round three Noise Action Planning, the scheme is not locate within any Candidate Noise Management Areas (CNMA)s.

According to Scotland Noise Map during daytime hours the modelled noise within the scheme extents ranges from 81dB to 75dB LDAY and during night-time hours the noise within the scheme extents ranges from 72dB to 65dB LNGT.

Population and Human Health

Core path Scotland has highlighted five core paths within 300m of the works, these include:

  • REN/32 located 90m north
  • REN/10 located 276m northwest
  • REN/8 located 110m north
  • REN/23 located 55m north
  • REN/3 located 70m west

There are also no National Cycle routes, or Bridleways. The M8 does not have any bus stops within the carriageway however it is used for routes between Glasgow and the local wider area.

Road Drainage and the Water Environment

According to Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)’s water classification hub, the closest watercourse is Clyde Estuary - Inner (inc Cart) (ID: 200510) which is located approx. 230m north from the end of the works. This has a moderate overall ecological watercourse.

SEPA’s Flood Maps does not highlight any surface or river water flooding within the scheme extents.

The groundwater within the scheme extents is identified as Govan Sand and Gravel (ID: 150779) which also has a ‘good’ overall ecological potential.

Drainage along the M8 within the scheme extents consists of gullies along either side of the carriageway.

Climate

Carbon Goals

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 sets out the target and vision set by the Scottish Government for tackling and responding to climate change (The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009). The Act includes a target of reducing CO2 emissions by 80% before 2050 (from the baseline year 1990). The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019 amended the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to bring the target of reaching net-zero emissions in Scotland forward to 2045 (Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019).

The Scottish Government has since published its indicative Nationally Determined Contribution (iNDC) to set out how it will reach net-zero emissions by 2045, working to reduce emissions of all major greenhouse gases by at least 75% by 2030 (Scotland's contribution to the Paris Agreement: indicative Nationally Determined Contribution - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)). By 2040, the Scottish Government is committed to reducing emissions by 90%, with the aim of reaching net-zero by 2045 at the latest.

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). 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 a legally binding target of net-zero by 2045.

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. 

Policies and Plans 

This Record of Determination (RoD) has been undertaken in accordance with Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (RSA EIA Regulations) along with Transport Scotland’s Environmental Impact Assessment Guidance (Guidance – Environmental Impact Assessments for road projects (transport.gov.scot)). Relevant guidance, policies and plans accompanied with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB)) LA 101 and LA 104 were used to form this assessment.