Description of local environment

Air quality

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 Falkirk Council, which has one active Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) within its administrative boundary. The nearest active AQMA ‘Falkirk Town Centre’ is located approx. 3.45km west of the scheme, declared for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10).

There are 15 sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) for pollutant releases to air within the last 10 years, within 10km of the scheme:

  • Avondale Landfill, Polmont - Waste and waste-water management – declared for carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), formaldehyde, hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), methane, nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2 as NO2), particulate matter (PM10 and smaller), and tetrachloroethane.
  • Bathgate Compressor Station (Site 2) – Energy section – declared for carbon dioxide (t) and methane (t).
  • CHP Plant, Earls Road, Grangemouth – declared for carbon dioxide.
  • Earls Gate Energy Centre, Grangemouth – Waste and waste-water management – declared for carbon dioxide (kt), chlorine and total inorganic chlorine compounds – as HCI (t), dioxins and furans – as WHO TEQ (g), mercury (kg) and nitrogen oxides, NO and NO2 as NO2 (kt).
  • Earls Road, Grangemouth – waste and waste water management – chloroform (kg) and toluene (kg).
  • Falkirk STW, Abbots Road, Falkirk – Waste and waste-water management – declared for methane.
  • Grangemouth Chemical Plant – Chemical industry – declared for chloroform (kg), ethylbenzene (kg), formaldehyde (kg), NMVOCs (t), toluene (kg), xylene – all isomers (t).
  • Grangemouth CHP, Boness Road, Grangemouth– Energy sector – declared for carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2 as NO2).
  • Grangemouth Refinery– Energy sector – declared for ammonia, antimony, arsenic, benzene, butadiene, cadmium, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, copper, HCFCs, HFCs, lead, manganese, mercury, methane, nickel, nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2 as NO2), NMVOCs, particulate matter (PM10 and smaller), particulate matter (total), sulphur oxides (SO2 and SO3 as SO2), tetrachloroethylene, toluene, vanadium, xylene (all isomers), and zinc.
  • INEOS Chemicals Grangemouth Ltd, Grangemouth – Chemical industry – declared for benzene, butadiene, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, HCFCs, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), methane, nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2 as NO2), NMVOCs, particulate matter (PM10 and smaller), and toluene.
  • INEOS FPS Ltd, Kinneil Terminal, Grangemouth – Energy sector – declared for carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, HCFCs, methane, nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2 as NO2), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), and sulphur oxides (SO2 and SO3 as SO2).
  • INEOS Infrastructure (Grangemouth) Ltd– Energy sector – declared for carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2 as NO2), particulate matter (PM10 and smaller), and sulphur oxides (SO2 and SO3 as SO2).
  • Longannet PS, Kincardine, Alloa – Energy sector – declared for antimony, arsenic, benzo(a) pyrene, cadmium, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, chlorine and total inorganic chlorine compounds (as HCl), chromium, copper, dioxins and furans (as ITEQ), dioxins and furans (as WHO TEQ), fluorine and total inorganic fluorine compounds (as HF), lead, manganese, mercury, methane, naphthalene, nickel, nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2 as NO2), nitrous oxide, NMVOCs, particulate matter (PM10 and smaller), particulate matter (total), polychlorinated biphenyls (PAHs) (four indicator compounds of LRTAP), selenium, sulphur oxides (SO2 and SO3 as SO2), vanadium, and zinc.
  • Syngenta, Grangemouth Man Centre, Grangemouth – Chemical industry – declared for chloroform, dioxane, HFCs, methanol, methyl chloride, NMVOCs, and toluene.
  • Versalis UK Ltd, Grangemouth – declared for butadiene, carbon dioxide, NMVOCs, and styrene.

The closest of these is Avondale Landfill and is located 150m northeast of the scheme extents. The site borders the M9 southbound (SB) carriageway at Junction 4 to the south of the scheme.

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

Cultural heritage

The PastMap and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) online mapping tools records the following designated cultural heritage assets within 300m of the scheme extents:

  • The Antonine Wall World Heritage Site (WHS) Buffer Zone is located within the western scheme extents close to Junction 5 where it crosses the M9.
  • The Antonine Wall WHS Boundary is located approx. 40m north of the scheme extents and borders the M9 SB carriageway.
  • Seven Scheduled Monuments (SM), the closest of which, Antonine Wall Deanfield, Roman Temporary Camp and Annexe 160m Nne of, is found approx. 15m north of the scheme extents, bordering the M9 SB carriageway boundary.
  • Three Listed Buildings, the closest of which, Kinneil House, Polmont (Formerly The Manse) Category B, is located approx. 45m south of the scheme extents.

There are no Garden & Designed Landscapes, Conservation Areas, or Battlefields within 300m of the scheme.

Of lower concern, there are approximately 19 undesignated cultural heritage assets (UCHAs) located within 300m of the scheme extents. The closest recorded is ‘Polmont Churchyard National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE), which is located approx. 40m north of the scheme extents and relates to medieval rig and furrows identified within the churchyard.

Construction of the M9 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 has therefore been assessed to be low.

Landscape and visual effects

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

The Landscape Character Types (LCT) within the study area is ‘Coastal Farmland - Central (no. 155), Urban (no. 0) and ‘Lowland River Valleys - Central’ (no. 152) (Scottish Landscape Character Types). The key characteristics of ‘Coastal Farmland – Central’ are:

  • Series of large scale, open, east-west rolling hill landforms, gently sloping down to the Forth to the north and the River Avon to the south.
  • Beech and hawthorn hedges and shelterbelts and avenues.
  • Settlement consists of hill top steadings and also the town of Bo’ness nestled at the coast.
  • Network of busy main roads, as well as quieter minor roads.
  • Many historical and archaeological features and strong cultural associations.
  • Simple, well-tended landscape.
  • Extensive views across the Forth and a strong coastal character.

The key characteristics of ‘Lowland River Valleys – Central’ are:

  • Well-defined river corridors, most with flat valley floor enclosed by often commanding hills.
  • Strong topographic and visual identity, with varying scale and character.
  • Glacial terrain and deposits located on valley margins, often subject to mineral extraction.
  • Relatively high proportion of tree cover, with roadside and hedgerow trees and semi natural woodland.
  • Dense areas of coniferous forest cover the slopes surrounding the reservoir in the Upper Carron Valley.
  • Road corridors often running parallel to river corridor form key linear features.
  • Settlement often closely linked to the river corridor and parallel road corridors.
  • Intensive settlement and urban development on margins of valleys south and north of Firth of Forth.
  • Predominance of traditionally managed estate, policy and designed landscapes.
  • Nature conservation importance of river and associated habitats.
  • Frequently enclosed and focussed views along the river valley.
  • Visibility of remnant derelict land, motorway and road corridors, power lines, wind farms and industrial sites from the urban fringe of Falkirk/Denny.

There are no characteristics for areas defined as ‘Urban’.

Land use located within 300m of the scheme extent can be categorised as the following:

  • Motorway and Major Roads,
  • Golf Course,
  • Rectilinear Fields and Farms,
  • Urban Area,
  • Quarry,
  • Plantation,
  • Cemetery,
  • Reservoir,
  • Recreation area, and
  • Industrial-scale farming unit.

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 3.1’ - Land capable of producing consistently high yields of a narrow range of crops and / or moderate yields of a wider range. Short grass leys are common.

The M9 within the scheme extents is intermittently bordered by sections of shelterbelt trees and areas of woodland within the Grangemouth Golf Course and along the River Avon.

There are six woodlands registered on the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland database located within 300m of the scheme:

  • 2.11ha of lowland mixed deciduous woodland, borders the NB carriageway within the western extents of the scheme, located approx. 2-3m back from the verge.
  • 1.52ha of wet woodland, borders the SB carriageway within the western extents of the scheme.
  • 3.06ha of lowland mixed deciduous woodland, borders the NB carriageway within the western extents of the scheme.
  • 1.98ha of lowland mixed deciduous woodland, located approx. 120m south NB carriageway at the Lathallan Junction at the western extent of the scheme.
  • 0.96ha of nearly native wet woodland, located approx. 190m north of the NB carriageway.
  • 1.22ha of lowland mixed deciduous woodland approx. 150m northeast of the NB carriageway within the western extents.

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

  • 8.53ha designated as Long-Established (of plantation origin) located approx. 115m north of the NB carriageway within the western extents of the scheme.

Polmont Park, Polmont, Tree Preservation Order (TPO) ID: TR/POL/4 is located within the scheme extents and extends across both the northbound and southbound verges within the western extents.

The existing trunk road is a prominent linear landscape feature. The trunk road corridor, for example, has a distinct character shaped by low volume, fast-flowing traffic, road markings, safety barriers, signage, street lighting, 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 Firth of Forth SPA and associated Ramsar Site lie approx. 2.6km north of the scheme (straight line distance, at the nearest point).

While not within 300m, the Firth of Forth SPA is underpinned by the Firth of Forth Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

There are two Local Nature Conservation Site’s (LNCS) within 300m of the scheme extents, they are as follows:

  • Polmont Park Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) is located approx. 90m south of the scheme extents.
  • Polmont Woods SINC is located approx. 110m north of the scheme extents.

There are no Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) designated for biodiversity features with connectivity to the scheme.

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

Three invasive non-native species (INNS):       

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

Two injurious weeds:

  • Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), and
  • Common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris).

One invasive native perennial:

  • Rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium).

The nearest record pertains to Japanese knotweed, located approx. 1.2km south of the scheme extents.

A search of the Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) online mapping tool records the following within the scheme extents (within last 10-years):

Two INNS:

  • Giant hogweed, and
  • Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum).

One invasive native perennial (as listed in the Trunk Road Inventory Manual):

  • Rosebay willowherb.

No INNS were recorded within the scheme extents within the last 10-years.

Habitat immediately bordering the M9 carriageway within the scheme extents predominantly consists of a combination of dense and fragmented areas of mature/semi-mature broadleaved trees and woodland, the River Avon which is spanned by the M9 within the scheme extents along with areas of arable and pastoral fields. Given the presence of the M9, the natural habitats bordering the scheme are somewhat fragmented. While there is high availability of roadside vegetation, the habitat immediately bordering the trunk road is assessed to be of reduced ecological value, due to the likelihood of trunk road disturbances from traffic flow and that the M9 trunk road limits the connectivity and continuity for species between their potential habitats on either side of the road.

Geology and soils

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

The National Soil Map of Scotland online mapping tool records the generalised soil types and major soil groups beneath the scheme extents as Brown Soils.

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

  • Glaciofluvial ice contact deposits – Gravel, sand and silt.
  • Superficial deposits – Sediment.
  • Till, Devensian – diamicton,
  • Raised marine deposits, Devensian-Clay, silt and sand,
  • Alluvium – Clay, silt, sand and gravel.

The bedrock geology in the scheme extents is recorded as:

  • Passage 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.

Material assets and waste

The proposed works are required to resurface the worn carriageway and reinstate road markings. Materials used will consist of:

  • Steel posts
  • Double sided safety barrier.
  • Red chips.
  • 40mm thick surface course.
  • 100mm thick binder course.
  • 220mm thick base course.
  • 260mm thick sub-base.
  • AC20 Dense Binder.

The scheme has a value greater than £350,000. As a result, a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is required.

The scheme involves the removal and installation of VRS and the replacement of red chips within the central reserve along a 2.41km stretch of the M9. The main waste produced during the works will be steel barrier and posts which will be recycled, kerbs which will be disposed of at a licenced facility and unacceptable material which will be disposed of at a licenced facility. Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) classification testing has been undertaken and all waste will be disposed of in line with these results.

Noise and vibration

Works are not located within a Candidate Quiet Areas (CQA).

The night-time noise level (Lnight) modelled within the scheme extents ranges between 70 and 75 decibels (dB) with noise levels decreasing to between 60 and 65 dB for the nearest surrounding Noise Sensitive Receptor (NSRs) (residential) (Scotland’s Noise Scotland’s Environment).

The baseline noise and vibration in the scheme extents is primarily influenced by vehicles travelling along the M9 trunk road. Secondary sources are most commonly from vehicles travelling along local network roads, day-to-day urban and agricultural land management activities.

Population and human health

The works are located within 300m of a large number of residential and farmstead properties due to the proximity of the settlement of Polmont. The nearest properties (residential) are located approx. 30m south of the scheme extents and are screened by a strip of broadleaved trees and lane one of the of M9. All residential properties are screened from the scheme extents by a combination of dense/fragmented mature tree shelterbelts, raised roadside embankments and/or other properties.

The following properties of note are also located within 300m of the scheme:

  • Heart of Scotland Holidays is located approx. 60m south of the scheme extents and is fully screened by shelterbelt plantation.
  • Plymouth Brethren Christian Church is located approx. 70m north and is fully screened by shelterbelt plantation.
  • Premier Inn Falkirk East Hotel is located approx. 220m from the western extents of the scheme and receives only partial screening from the works.
  • Macdonald Inchyra Hotel and Spa is located approx. 280m north from the western extents of the scheme and is fully screened by shelterbelt plantation.

There are multiple core paths within 300m of the scheme extents:

  • Bo’ness to Polmont Woods (ID: 016/629) borders the M9 SB carriageway in proximity to the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. This core path also connects with Bo’ness to Polmont Woods (ID: 016/627), Polmont Woods (ID: 016/568) and Polmont Woods (ID: 016/616) within 300m.
  • Rannoch Park to Fairy Glen (ID: 016/570) which is spanned by the scheme extents at the Cadgers Brae Roundabout. This core path also connects with Cassel Brae / Fairy Glen (ID: 016/580).

In addition, footpaths border the Bo’Ness Road overbridge which spans the M9 within the scheme extents.

There are no public transport links (e.g., bus stops) present along the M9 carriageway within the scheme extents.  In addition, there is no street lighting present throughout the scheme extents.

There are also no National Cycle Network routes within 300m of the scheme.

The M9, within the scheme extents, is comprised of two lanes along the NB and SB carriageways with the national speed limit applying throughout. The Average Daily Traffic (ADT) flow information within the scheme extents is moderate (44,786 motor vehicles (ID: 00461, 2026 data)) (Road Traffic Statistics).

Road drainage and the water environment

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

  • Grange Burn / Westquarter Burn (ID: 3300), is a river in the Forth Estuary (South) Coastal catchment of the Scotland river basin district. The main stem is approx. 16.3km in length and has an overall status of ‘Moderate’. This river is spanned by the M9 approx. 250m west of the western scheme extents.

There are seven unclassified surface waterbodies located within 300m of the scheme extents. They are as follows:

  • Millhall Burn / Gilston Burn is spanned by the M9 within the scheme extents and is separated from the works by active lanes of the M9 and at least 15m of verge.
  • A small issues which connects to Millhall Reservoir is located approx. 50m north at the eastern extents of the scheme.
  • Pond1 is located approx. 70m south of the scheme at the eastern extents.
  • Millhall Reservoir is located approx. 150m north of the scheme extents.
  • Pond2 is located approx. 180m north of the scheme at the eastern extents.
  • Pond3 is located approx. 180m north of the scheme extents.
  • Pond4 is located approx. 240m north of the scheme at the eastern extents.
  • Polmont Burn is located approx. 250m west of the western scheme extents.

A search of the SEPA’s Flood Map online mapping tool records that the trunk road within the scheme extents is at a low to high risk of surface water flooding each year (i.e. it has between a 0.1% and 10% chance of flooding).

A search of Scotland's Environment (SE) online mapping tool determined that the trunk road lies on the ‘’Grangemouth’ and ‘Avon Sand and Gravel’ groundwaters, which have both been classified as ‘Good.

A search of the Scotland's Environment (SE) determined that the trunk road, within the scheme extents, does 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).