Environmental Impact Assessment

The requirement for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is detailed in Sections 20A and 55A of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 as amended by The Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. The legislation details projects for which EIA is mandatory (Annex I) and projects for which EIA may be required where specified thresholds have been exceeded and significant effects are considered likely (Annex II). Annex II projects are screened for potentially significant effects with regard to Annex III criteria.

The A887 Allt Lagain Bhain Bridge Replacement is a “Relevant” Annex II project as it is located in part within the River Moriston Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The project was screened initially by Scotland TranServ on behalf of Transport Scotland and, with regard to Annex III criteria, the potential for significant effects was identified and the requirement for EIA determined.

As the A887 Allt Lagain Bhain Environmental Statement (ES) was completed in 2016 and was subject to a scoping procedure prior to 16 May 2017 when the Roads (Scotland) Act 1894 (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 came into effect, it has been assessed in accordance with the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 as amended by the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1999, hereafter referred to as the EIA Regulations. This is in line with the transitional arrangements as described in The Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017.

The completed EIA has directly informed the design process. It will also inform the contract specification, incorporating measures to avoid, reduce, remedy or offset any significant predicted adverse environmental impacts.