Description of local environment

Air quality

Receptors – 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 area with bandings in the ‘green zone’ (Low Index 1-3).

The M9 Forth Bridge lies within the boundary of Stirling Council, which currently has no Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) within its administrative boundary. The nearest AQMA, ‘Falkirk Town Centre’, lies within the boundary of Falkirk Council approx. 18.8km southeast of the scheme extents (at its nearest point) and has been declared for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10).

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

  • ‘Scotbeef Ltd, Longleys Farm, Bridge of Allan’ – animal and vegetable products for the food and beverage sector, declared for hydrofluorocarbons (located approx. 1.8km northeast).
  • ‘UCP, Bridge of Allan, Stirling’ – other activities, declared for HFCs (located approx. 2km north).
  • ‘Stirling STW, 29 Whitehouse Road, Stirling’ – waste and waste-water management, declared for methane (located approx. 3.65km south east).
  • ‘Superglass Insulations Ltd, Stirling’ – mineral industry, declared for ammonia, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, NMVOCs, and phenols (located approx. 3.8km southeast).
  • ‘Cambusview Poultry Unit, Cambus, Alloa’ – intensive livestock production and aquaculture, declared for ammonia, particulate matter (located approx. 6.4km east).
  • ‘Station Road, Cowie’ – paper and wood production and processing, declared for antimony, arsenic, cadmium, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, chromium, copper, dioxins and furans, formaldehyde, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds and particulate matter (located approx. 8.8km southeast).
  • ‘Cowiehall Quarry, Stirling’ – mineral industry, declared for particulate matter (located approx. 9km northeast).
  • ‘Bakelite Synthetics UK Ltd, Cowie’ – chemical industry, declared for formaldehyde (located approx. 9.2km southeast).

The baseline air quality within the scheme extents is primarily influenced by motor vehicles travelling along the M9 trunk road. Secondary sources are derived from vehicles travelling along nearby local network roads and day-to-day agricultural land management activities.

Cultural heritage

According to the PastMap and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) online mapping tool, there are no designated cultural heritage assets located within 300m of the scheme extents.

There are approx. 11 undesignated cultural heritage assets located within 300m of the scheme extents. The nearest record pertains to ‘Old Mills Farm Motorway Bridge’ National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) (ID: 187107) which the scheme extents are located within.

Construction of the M9 carriageway is likely to have removed any archaeological remains that may have been present within the carriageway boundary. The potential for the presence of unknown archaeological remains in the study area has therefore been assessed to be low.

Given the restriction of the works to the M9 Forth Bridge and that there are no designated cultural heritage assets located within 300m of the works, local cultural heritage is unlikely to be affected by the proposed joint replacement and resurfacing works. 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 ‘Carselands’ (no. 153) (Scottish Landscape Character Types). The key characteristics of which are:

  • Flat, open, large scale Carselands of predominantly open agricultural landcover forming the floor and former floodplains of the River Forth, River Devon and Black Devon.
  • Important landscape setting of Stirling, Stirling Castle, and the Ochil Hills.
  • Absence of settlement across the Carselands, restricted to villages on the peripheral slopes and scattered farmsteads along the valley floors.
  • Periodic extensive flooding continues to influence land use.
  • Trunk roads run in parallel to the northern and southern perimeters of the Carselands.
  • Distinct character of group of Hillfoot villages, and their relationship with streams issuing from Ochil Hills within Lower Devon area, as well as major overhead power lines and their pylons.
  • Recent expansion of settlement boundaries at edge of carse making new development very visible.
  • Industrial and agricultural buildings, and bonded warehouse on open carseland prominent in views within Lower Devon area.
  • Largest remaining intact raised bog in Britain at Flanders Moss, with integration importance for nature conservation.
  • Importance of Carse of Forth open farmland for flocks of wintering geese.
  • Open views across carse accentuated by consequent dramatic contrast with the adjacent escarpments of the Ochil and Fintry, Gargunnock and Touch Hills.

Land use within the study area is comprised of the following:

  • Motorway and major roads.
  • Freshwater area.
  • Rectilinear fields and farms.
  • Rough grazing.
  • Industrial or commercial 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.

There is one area of woodland registered on the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland database located within 300m of the scheme extents:

  • 0.8ha of wet woodland, located approx. 80m southwest of the scheme extents.

In addition to the above, the following woodlands are located within 300m of the scheme extents:

  • 1.6ha of broadleaved woodland, located approx. 20m west from the southern end of the scheme extents.
  • 1.5ha of conifer woodland, located approx. 75m southwest of the scheme extents.

There are no areas of woodland registered on the Ancient Woodland Inventory Scotland database and no trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) located within 300m of 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 River Teith Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is spanned by the M9 Forth Bridge. No other European sites e.g., Special Protection Areas, SACs, or Ramsar Sites are location within 2km of the scheme extents.

While not situated within 2km of the works, the Firth of Forth SPA and Ramsar Site lies approx. 8.8km east of the M9 Forth Bridge and also shares hydrological connectivity with the scheme. In addition, the scheme extents also lie within the buffer zone for several of the qualifying species of the South Tayside Goose Roosts SPA and Ramsar Site.

The Firth of Forth Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) (component of the SPA) shares hydrological connectivity with the scheme extents and lies approx. 8.8km east of the scheme extents (straight line distance, at its nearest point).

The Carsebreck and Rhynd Lochs SSSI (component of the SPA) lies approx. 15.2km northeast of the scheme extents (straight line distance, at its nearest point).

There are no Local Nature Conservation Sites (LNCS), SSSIs or Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) designated for biodiversity features within 300m of the scheme extents.

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

Three invasive non-native species (INNS):

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

Three injurious weeds:

  • Broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius).
  • Common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea).
  • Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense).

The nearest record pertains to giant hogweed and lies approx. 0.26km southeast of the scheme extents (recorded in 2016). No invasive native perennials were recorded within 2km of the scheme extents (in the last 10-years).

A search of the Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) online mapping tool records no INNS, injurious weeds, or invasive native perennials within the verge of the M9 carriageway boundary within the scheme extents (in the last 10-years).

The habitat immediately bordering the M9 carriageway consists primarily of mature broadleaved woodland, arable land, mature hedgerows, natural roadside vegetation (e.g., immature trees, shrubs, scrub, etc.), and made verges which undergo cyclic maintenance (e.g., grass-cutting, weed control, etc.). While there is a high availability of roadside vegetation along the M9, the habitat immediately bordering the carriageway is of reduced ecological value, due to the likelihood of disturbances from fast-flowing traffic. The presence of the M9 carriageway also limits the connectivity and continuity for species between their potential habitats on either side of the carriageway.

Ecological surveys have been undertaken at the M9 Forth Bridge in April 2021, July 2022, August 2025 and June 2026.

During these surveys extensive areas of INNS Himalayan balsam have been identified along the banks of River Forth including in proximity to the bridge. As of June 2026, when the last ECS was conducted, Himalayan balsam is still present at this location.

Geology and soils

The M9 within the scheme extents is not located within a Geological Conservation Review Site (GCRS) and there are no Local Geodiversity Sites (LGS) located within 300m of the scheme extents.

The National Soil Map of Scotland online mapping tool records one generalised soil type within the scheme extents:

  • Alluvial soils.

There is one major soil group recorded within the scheme extents:

  • Alluvial soils.

The British Geological Survey online mapping tool records the superficial geology within the scheme extents as:

  • Reclaimed Intertidal Deposits – Silt and Clay.

The bedrock geology within the scheme extents is recorded as:

  • Sheriffmuir Sandstone Member – Sandstone.

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

Given the restriction of the works to the M9 carriageway and the lack of any excavation works, local geology and soils are unlikely to be affected by the proposed resurfacing works. As such, ‘Geology and Soils’ has been scoped out of further environmental assessment.

Material assets and waste

The proposed works are required to replace the expansion joints and resurface part of the M9 carriageway on the River Forth Bridge. Materials used will consist of:

  • Thormajoint BJ2000 – for APJ
  • Freyssinet Multiflex – Type 5 “Mat” Joint
  • Sentinel Nosing Mortar – Mat Joint Bedding
  • Safetreack IRR – Mat Joint Gap Infill
  • Hilti HIT -HY 170 – Mat Joint
  • METSET Structural Adhesive – Mat Joint
  • Fischer EM – Mat Joint
  • Tigiepox To1 – Mat Joint
  • TS 2010 – Surfacing
  • Ready Mix Concrete – Deck Repairs (if required)

The scheme has a value of less than £350,000. As a result, a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is not required.

The scheme involves removal of the existing expansion joints and removal of the surface course. The main waste produced during the works will be the existing deteriorated joints and road planings (bituminous materials) (approx. tonnage to be confirmed by Contractor), which 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 Quiet Areas (CQA).

The night-time modelled noise level (LNGT) within the scheme extents ranges between 75 and 80 decibels (dB), with levels dropping to between 65 and 70 dB at the nearest noise sensitive receptor (NSR) (business premises).

Baseline noise and vibration in the study area is mainly influenced by vehicles traveling along the M9 trunk road. Secondary sources are derived from vehicles travelling along nearby local network roads, day-to-day woodland and agricultural land management activities.

Population and human health

There are a small number of business premises located within 300m of the scheme extents, however there are no residential properties. The nearest residential property is located 470m east of the scheme and is fully screened by intervening topography. Several of the business premises have reduced screening from the scheme extents, while others are screened by a mix of intervening topography and/or other properties.

In addition, the following is located within 300m of the scheme extents:

  • ‘Little Stars Nursery’ – located approx. 255m east of the scheme extents. This nursery is screened from the scheme by intervening topography and/or other properties.

One local footpath passes below the southern extent of the M9 Forth Bridge, with a core path (ID: 434) spanning the River Forth approx. 45m east. There are no other non-motorised user or community facilities with connectivity to the scheme extents and street lighting is absent.

The M9, within the scheme extents, is a dual carriageway with a speed limit of 70 mph applying throughout. The Average Daily Traffic (ADT) flow is high (37,259 motor vehicles (ID: JTC00068, 2026 data)) (Drakewell Traffic Data).

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 Forth (below River Teith confluence)’ (ID: 4700), which flows directly beneath the southern end of the scheme extents. It is within the River Forth catchment of the Scotland river basin district with the main stem being approx. 5.7km in length and has been classified as ‘moderate’.

There are no unclassified waterbodies, considered to be a minor tributary or drainage channels, located within 300m of the scheme extents.

A search of the SEPA’s Flood Map online mapping tool records that the M9 River Forth bridge is not at risk of surface water flooding however, the River Forth is noted as being at high risk of flooding (e.g., river has a 10% chance of flooding each each).

A search of the Scotland’s Environment (SE) online mapping tool determined that the trunk road, within the scheme extents, lies on the ‘Callander’ and ‘Teith and Forth Valleys’ groundwaters, which have both been classified as ‘Good’.

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).