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 the City of Edinburgh Council, ‘Air Quality Management Area Glasgow Road 2013’, approx. 8km northeast of the scheme and has been declared for nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

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

  • Wyman Gordon Limited, Livingston – Production and Processing of Metals, declared for carbon dioxide (CO2), located approx. 1.1km southeast of the scheme.
  • API Foils, Houstoun Industrial Estate, Livingston – Other Activities, declared for non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) and toluene, located approx. 1.4km southeast of the scheme.
  • Shin-Etsu Handotai, Wilson Road, Livingston – Chemical Industry, declared for ammonia, located approx. 3.3km southwest of the scheme.
  • Clapperton Poultry Complex, Broxburn, West Lothian – Intensive Livestock Production and Aquaculture, declared for ammonia and particulate matter (PM) (PM10 and smaller and total), located approx. 3.8km southeast of the scheme.
  • Stepend Poultry Farm, West Calder, West Lothian – Intensive Livestock Production and Aquaculture, declared for ammonia, located approx. 5.7km southwest of the scheme.
  • Clifton Poultry Farm, Clifton Road, Newbridge – Intensive Livestock Production and Aquaculture, declared for ammonia, located approx. 6km southeast of the scheme.
  • Hillwood Quarry, Ratho, Midlothian – Mineral Industry, declared for CO2 and PM10 and smaller, located approx. 7.9km northeast of the scheme.
  • Kaimes Quarry Landfill Site, Kirknewton – Waste and Waste-Water Management, declared for methane, located approx. 8.8km southeast of the scheme.
  • Ravelrig Quarry, Kirknewton, Midlothian – Mineral Industry, declared for PM10, PM5 and smaller, located approx. 9.2km southeast of the scheme.
  • Balerno Poultry Farm, Lanark Road West, Balerno – Intensive Livestock Production and Aquaculture, located approx. 9.5km southeast 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 one designated site within 300m of the scheme extents:

  • Bangour Village Hospital Conservation Area lies approx. 270m north / northwest of the scheme.

Of lesser cultural heritage value, seven undesignated cultural heritage assets (UCHAs) lie within 300m of the scheme extents, the closest of which lies approx. 70m east of the scheme:

  • Houston Mains National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE).

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 Bangour Village Hospital Conservation Area lies within 300m of the scheme extents, they are separated from the works by woodland and the active A89. Additionally, works will be restricted to the existing M8 eastbound offslip carriageway boundary and will not be at risk of impacting the conservation area. 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 ‘Urban’ (no. 0) of which there are no characteristics.

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

  • Motorway and major roads.
  • Urban area.
  • Golf course.
  • Designed landscape.
  • Rough grazing.
  • Industrial or commercial area.
  • Rectilinear fields and farms.

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.

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

  • Lowland mixed deciduous woodland (approx. 1ha) lies adjacent to the scheme.
  • Wet woodland (approx. 0.9ha) lies approx. 33m north of the scheme.
  • Lowland mixed deciduous woodland (approx. 0.75ha) lies approx. 101m north of the scheme.

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

  • Conifer woodland (approx. 41.9ha total).
  • Broadleaved woodland (approx. 3.7ha total).
  • Young trees (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, the Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrews Bay Complex SPA and Westwater SPA and Ramsar Site. The Firth of Forth SPA and Ramsar Site lies approx. 8.9km north of the scheme, the Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrews Bay Complex SPA lies approx. 13.5km northeast of the scheme and Westwater SPA and Ramsar Site lies approx. 18.4km southeast of the scheme.

There are no Local Nature Conservation Sites (LNCS), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) designated for biodiversity features within 300m of the scheme extents. However, the Firth of Forth SSSI underpins the SPA. In addition, Westwater Reservoir SSSI underpins Westwater SPA.

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), all wild birds and their active nests (typically active March to August inclusive) are protected. Only records with open-use attributions (OGL, CC0, CC-BY) were included in the search criteria.

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).
  • Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum).

Injurious Weeds:

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

Invasive Native Perennial:

  • Rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium).

The closest record pertains to INNS Himalayan balsam approx. 0.4km south of the scheme (recorded 2021).

A search of the Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) online mapping tool records invasive native perennial rosebay willowherb (recorded 2014) intermittently throughout the verge within the scheme extents. No other injurious or invasive plants are present 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 golf course lies south of the scheme with agricultural land north and east of the scheme, and an industrial estate southeast of the scheme. In addition, woodland lies directly north of the scheme for the majority of the extents. Most woodland boundaries are comprised of wooden 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 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.

The major soil group beneath the scheme extents are:

  • Brown soils.

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

  • Till, Devensian (Diamicton).
  • Glaciofluvial Ice Contact Deposits (Gravel, Sand and Silt).

The bedrock geology in 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.

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, 100mm aggregate Site Class 1.
  • TS2010 Surface Course, 10mm aggregate Site Class 2.
  • EME2 14mm Binder.
  • EME2 20mm Binder.
  • 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 1404m scheme involves removal of surface course and localised areas of base and binder. In total, approx. 1300 tonnes of bituminous material (European Waste Catalogue Code: 17 03 02) will be removed from site, approx. 1260 tonnes 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 55 and 75 decibels (dB) within the scheme extents (Scotland’s Noise), with levels dropping to between 55 and 60 dB 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. 142m north and is fully screened from the scheme by roadside tree shelterbelt. The remaining properties are also fully screened from the scheme by roadside tree shelterbelt.

In addition, Premier Inn Livingston (M8 Junction 3) Hotel lies approx. 163m southwest of the scheme.

Core Path 31 lies above the M8 crossing over the scheme extents via an overbridge.

The M8, within the scheme extents, is a two lane offslip with the national speed limit applying throughout. The Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) flow is high (30,005 motor vehicles (ID: JTC00297, 2024)).

Road drainage and the water environment

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

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

  • Drain1 lies approx. 48m east of the scheme.
  • Pond1 lies approx. 95m north of the scheme.
  • Drain2 lies approx. 116m east of the scheme.
  • Drain3 lies approx. 121m south of the scheme.
  • An issue lies approx. 129m north of the scheme.
  • Drain4 lies approx. 212m northeast of the scheme.
  • Beugh Burn lies approx. 246m southeast of the scheme.
  • Drain5 lies approx. 260m north of the scheme.
  • Pond2 lies approx. 268m south of the scheme.
  • A balancing pond lies approx. 274m south of the scheme.

A search of the SEPA’s Flood Map online mapping tool records that three areas on the M8 within the scheme extents are at a medium risk of surface water flooding (i.e., each year this area has a 0.5% chance of flooding) and one area has a medium – high risk of surface water flooding (i.e., each year this area has a 0.5 – 10% of flooding).

A search of Scotland's Environment (SE) online mapping tool determined that the trunk road lies on the ‘Livingston’ 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).

Policies and plans

This Record of Determination has been undertaken in accordance with all relevant regulations, guidance, policies and plans, notably including the Environment and Sustainability Discipline of the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB)) and Transport Scotland’s Environmental Impact Assessment Guidance (Guidance - Environmental Impact Assessments for road projects).