Description of local environment

Air quality

Properties within 300m of the scheme – refer to ‘Population and Human Health’.

No Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) (Air Quality Management Areas) are located within 10km of the scheme.

There are no air quality monitoring stations located within 10km of the proposed works (Scottish Air Quality).

There are no air pollutant release sites registered on the Scottish Pollution Release Inventory (SPRI) located within 10km of the scheme (Scottish Pollution Release Inventory).

The nearest Transport Scotland manual data counter (site name ATC08090) lies within the scheme extent and recorded an annual daily total (ADT) count of 5,226 motor vehicles in 2024, of which 18.2% were heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).

Baseline air quality in the study area is mainly influenced by vehicles travelling along the A83 trunk road. Secondary sources are derived from day-to-day rural village activities and local land management within the area.

Cultural heritage

There are no Scheduled Monuments, Garden & Designed Landscapes, Conservation Areas, Battlefields or World Heritage Sites found within 300m of the scheme extent (Pastmap).

Multiple features of cultural heritage interest lie within 300m of the scheme. Several Listed Buildings are within 300m of the scheme. The following Listed Building is located closest to the scheme,

  • ‘Arrochar Glenloin House with Icehouse and Gate piers’ (ref LB43182) lies approximately 150m northeast from the A83 carriageway.

Records of lesser cultural heritage importance noted on the National Records of the Historic Environment (NRHE) and Historic Environment Record (HER) databases, were also noted within 300m of the scheme, those located within or adjacent to the scheme are listed below:

  • HER, Walkover Survey: Arrochar Parish, Loch Lomond, Argyll & Bute lies within the scheme extent.
  • HER, Dumbarton – Tarbet – Inverary – Tyndrum Military Road, lies within the scheme extent.
  • HER, Hidden Heritage Community Archaeology Project: Walkover Survey Arrochar and Tarbet, Argyll lies within the scheme extent.
  • HER and NRHE, Arrochar Old Bridge, lies within the scheme extent.
  • HER and NRHE, Old Military Shop, lies adjacent to the A83 carriageway.
  • HER and NRHE, Old Military Road Tea Room and Shop, lies adjacent to the A83 carriageway.

Construction of the A83 is likely to have removed any archaeological remains that may have been present within the area.

Landscape and visual effects

The schemes fall within Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park (LLTNP) (NatureScot Site code: 8621) which is designated for the following special general qualities,

  • A world-renowned landscape famed for its rural beauty.
  • Wild and rugged highlands contrasting with pastoral lowlands.
  • Water in its many forms.
  • The rich variety of woodlands.
  • Settlements nestled within a vast natural backdrop.
  • Famous through-routes.
  • The easily accessible landscape splendour.

The Landscape Character Type within the schemes is recorded as ‘Steep Ridges and Hills’ (LCT 250), ‘Settled Coastal Fringe’ (LCT 265) and ‘Highland Summits’ (LCT 251) which have the following key characteristics:

Steep Ridges and Hills

  • Steep-sided hills, with pronounced summits, which rise dramatically from narrow sea lochs and deep glens.
  • Craggier Cowal hills with upper slopes and summits broken with small rocky outcrops and knolls. These hills are deeply cut by glens and straths and by myriad smaller burns.
  • Long and narrow sea lochs of Loch Long, and the more sinuous Loch Goil.
  • Coniferous forest predominantly covers the lower slopes of the Cowal hills, extending high into narrow glens and merging with broadleaf woodlands.
  • Generally smoother Luss Hills forming conical peaks and long narrow ridges and spurs. These hills are more open with only small areas of coniferous forestry on lower slopes.
  • Hills often seen in conjunction with the higher Highland Summits.
  • Some hills form key landmark featured in views along the sea lochs.
  • Settlement largely absent even from the narrow rocky coastal edges along the sea lochs and some parts feel relatively remote. MOD facilities on the fringes influence character in some areas.

Settled Coastal Fringe

  • Generally associated with alluvial fans that occur at the mouths of straths and glens or raised beaches.
  • Narrow and rocky coastline with shingle beaches and occasional small sandy bays.
  • Small areas of saltmarsh and mudflats present at outlets.
  • Rocky foreshore commonly modified by road embankments and piers at the core of settlements.
  • Subtle promontories, coinciding with areas of alluvial outwash, exaggerated in long views along the coast from roads and the sea lochs and form focal points.
  • Areas of farmland on less steeply sloping ground behind and wrapping around, more concentrated areas of settlement.
  • Some traces of semi-native oak/birch woodland and pockets of mature policy woodland and tall specimen trees present close to the shore and at the heads of the lochs. Settlements small and often linear in arrangement, confined by steep slopes and the sea.
  • Buildings appear very small in relation to the scale of the hills which backdrop them as the full height of the hill is seen without any intervening ground.
  • Ruinous buildings and pockets of overgrown pastures present along the coast set amongst dense forest.
  • Tourism and recreational facilities key features including chalets, caravan parks and hotels. Views channelled along the shore of the strongly contained sea lochs and across the water to opposite shores.
  • Rugged peaks of the Highland Summits and Steep Ridges and Hills form an essential part of the setting to these settled coastal areas.

Highland Summits

  • High mountains generally lying above 800 metres, but lower and intensely craggy in the core of the Trossachs where geology is particularly complex.
  • Steep slopes often covered in scree.
  • Narrow rocky ridges, deeply scooped corries and rocky gullies on many of these mountains.
  • Narrow glens deeply cut into the mountains, often contain fast-flowing burns and waterfalls.
  • Strongly patterned landscape with exposed rock, crags, small lochs and myriad water courses significantly increasing complexity.
  • Simple vegetation cover is, largely comprising semi-natural grassland with patchy heather and ground-hugging alpine species on upper slopes and summits. Bracken and bog occur on lower slopes and within glen floors. Coniferous forestry present on some lower slopes, extending up into glens.
  • Broadleaf woodlands rare, confined to steeper slopes with fragments of oak and birch tracing burns and gullies.
  • Very sparsely populated with roads and dispersed settlement occurring only on its fringes.
  • Impounded lochs, coniferous forestry and hydroelectric infrastructure and transmission lines close to the mountain’s northwest of Loch Lomond.
  • Highly visible massive peaks and ridges of the mountains forming a scenic rugged backdrop to the lower settled loch shores, glens and straths.
  • Instantly recognisable mountain forms such as the Cobbler and Ben Lomond. Ben Ledi, Ben Vorlich and Ben Lomond are important landmark features, marking the Highland edge seen widely from the Central Lowlands of Scotland.
  • Popular mountains with walkers because of their highly natural and rugged character, and the presence of ‘Munro’ and ‘Corbett’ peaks. The higher summits offer extensive views.
  • Distinct sense of wild character of the summits due to their rugged and natural qualities, especially away from hydro-electric infrastructure and poorly integrated forestry.
  • Where snow is held on the high summits and the corries of Ben Lui and Ben Oss long in the year, this accentuates the exposure and wild character.

Land use (HLAmap) within the schemes is classified as:

  • Urban area (Arrochar)
  • Rough grazing
  • Rectilinear Fields and Farms
  • Managed woodland
  • Recreation area (Glenloin Caravan Park)

The land surrounding the trunk road is classified as 4.2 – ‘Land capable of producing a narrow range of crops, primarily on grassland with short arable breaks of forage crops’, 6.1 – ‘Land capable of use as rough grazing with a high proportion of palatable plants’ and 6.2 – ‘Land capable of use as rough grazing with moderate quality plants’ (Scotland's Soils).

The A83 Trunk Road connects Tarbert with Lochgilphead, Kennacraig and Campbeltown. It commences at the A82 / A83 junction within Tarbert leading generally south-westwards for 158 kilometres to (and including) its junction with New Quay Street at the Campbeltown Ferry Terminal. The A83 is a single carriageway along its length.

Biodiversity

The Loch Lomond Woods Special Area of Conservation (SAC) lies approximately 460m northeast from the A83 carriageway (NatureScot Site Code: 8298).

A Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) has been undertaken to assess the potential effects of the works on the qualifying features of the site. Refer to the Biodiversity Impacts and Mitigation section below for conclusion of the HRA.

No locally or nationally designated sites with biodiversity features (such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Local Nature Reserves or National Nature Reserves) are located within 300m of the scheme (SiteLink).

A search of NBN Atlas identified records of the following invasive non-native species (INNS) (denoted by *) and injurious plant species (as listed in the Network Management Contract (NMC)) using the same search criteria:

  • Rhododendron* (Rhododendron ponticum)
  • Himalayan balsam* (Impatiens glandulifera)
  • Rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium)
  • Broad-leaved dock (Rumex obstusifolius)
  • Common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris)
  • Curled dock (Rumex crispus)

A search of Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) holds one record of invasive native perennial plant (as listed in the NMC) within 300m of the scheme.

  • Rosebay willowherb - growths have been recorded on the northbound verge within the scheme extent.

Habitat surrounding the A83 carriageway at the scheme extents is dominated by steep sided mountainous terrain with extensive woodland mainly of coniferous tree species, with pockets of rough grazing. Loch Long is located to the southwest of the scheme offering aquatic and riparian habitat.

One area of ancient (of semi-natural origin) woodlands listed on the Ancient Woodland Inventory (Ancient Woodland Inventory) lies approximately 145m east from the scheme beyond the Glenloin Caravan Park.

According to Argyll & Bute Council there are two Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) located within 300m of the scheme (Argyll and Bute TPO). The closest ‘2004/0002/TPO – Woodland at Church Road Arrochar’ covers a group of trees as well as several stand-alone trees, lies approximately 40m southwest from the scheme.

It is considered unlikely that any terrestrial mammal species of conservation importance are associated with permanent habitat or resting places within the area of likely construction disturbance. Therefore, a field survey has been ruled out, and a desktop study has been deemed sufficient for this assessment.

Geology and soils

The scheme does not lie within a Geological Conservation Review Site (GCRS), or a geologically designated SSSI (SiteLink).

Bedrock geology within the scheme extents is listed as:

  • Beinn Bheula Schist Formation – Psammite and Pelite. Metamorphic bedrock formed between 1000 and 541 million years ago between the Tonian and Ediacaran periods (BGS Geology Viewer).

Superficial deposits within the scheme extents are listed as:

  • River Terrace Deposits 1 – Gravel, sand, silt and clay. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 2.588 million years ago and the present during the Quaternary period.
  • Till – Diamicton. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 2.588 million years ago and the present during the Quaternary period (BGS Geology Viewer).

The local soil type is recorded as peaty gleys with dystrophic semi-confined peat and humus-iron podzols with peaty gleyed podzols (Scotland's Soils).

Soils within the scheme extent are recorded as being ‘Class 0’, ‘Class 3’ and ‘Class 5’ as displayed on Scotland’s Carbon and Peatland Map. Class 0 is mineral soil, and peatland habitats are not typically found on such soils. Class 3 is associated with dominant vegetation cover which is not priority peatland habitat. Class 5 is associated with no peatland habitat recorded.

Material assets and waste

The proposed works are necessary to resurface the worn-out carriageway and improve drainage, likely requiring binder inlay, reinstation of road markings, filter drain replacement and renewal of gullies. Materials used will consist of:

  • Asphaltic material
  • Bituminous emulsion bond coat
  • Milled in road studs
  • Thermoplastic road marking paint
  • P100 Reinforcement Grid

Uncontaminated planings will be recovered for re-use in line with BEAR Scotland’s Procedure 126: The Production of Fully Recovered Asphalt Road Planings.

Any coal tar contaminated road planings will be classified as a Special Waste. Special waste consignment notes (SWCN) will be obtained from SEPA to allow the movement of the contaminated planings. Coal tar contaminated road planings will be transported by a registered waste carrier to an appropriate waste recovery facility, and SEPA will be notified prior to the Special Waste leaving site.

The value of the scheme does exceed £350,000; therefore, a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is required.

No site compound is required for these works. Storage of plant and equipment will be within the A83 carriageway.

Noise and vibration

For residential, community and commercial receptors refer to the ‘Population and Human Health’ section below.

Works are not located within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) as defined by the Transportation Noise Action Plan-2019-2023 (Road maps).

Scottish Noise Mapping indicates average noise level during the night (LNGT) ranges between 55 and 65dB within the A83 and its associated verges (Scotland's Noise Map).

Baseline noise levels are likely to be primarily influenced by traffic travelling along the A83 carriageway. Secondary sources are derived from vehicles travelling along the local road network and rural activities associated with land management within the area.

Population and human health

There are numerous residential and commercial properties located within 300m of the schemes. The majority are within the village of Arrochar and line the banks of Loch Long. The closest properties, lie adjacent to the A83 carriageway within the scheme extents with no roadside verge screening. Access to properties is via the A83 carriageway within the scheme extent.

Several commercial properties lie within 300m of the schemes, the closest lies adjacent to the A83 carriageway. Commercial property includes hotels, eateries, village shops, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation including Glenloin Caravan Park. All of which are accessed via the A83 carriageway within the scheme extents

Access to Loch Long parking facilities including public toilets and picnic areas are located within the scheme extent.

A paved pedestrian footpath lies adjacent to the A83 carriageway throughout the scheme extent, crossing from the southbound (SB) side to the northbound (NB) side. However, for a small section of the scheme, it can be found on both sides of the A83 carriageway.

One bus stop is located on either side of the A83 carriageway within the scheme extent and one layby located on the NB side of the carriageway within the scheme extent.

There are no National Cycle Network (NCN) routes (OS Maps) within 300m of the scheme.

Three walking routes as listed on WalkHighlands lie within 300m of the scheme:

  • ‘Arrochar to Tarbet linkpath’ utilises a section of the A83 carriageway within the scheme extent.
  • ‘LL&C Way: Arrochar to Inverglus’ is accessed via a path leading from the A83 carriageway before crossing the bridge over Loin Water within the scheme extent.
  • ‘Glen Loin and Coiregrograin, Arrochar’ utilises a footpath and footbridge approximately 10m south from the A83 carriageway.

Two walking routes (path references: S0496 and S0952) listed on LLTNP Core Paths utilise sections of paved pedestrian footpath which lie adjacent to the A83 carriageway within the scheme extent.

According to Scottish Road Works there are no other works scheduled within 300m of the scheme (Scottish Road Works Online).

TM will consist of night-time road closure of the A83 carriageway with amnesties.

Road drainage and the water environment

‘Cowal and Lomond’ (ID: 150689) is a groundwater body, in the Scotland River basin district, which underlies the scheme. It was awarded an overall status of ‘good’ in 2024 by Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) under the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (WFD) (Water Classification Hub).

The A83 carriageway within the scheme extent spans ‘Loin Water’ (ID: 10216) which is a river, in the Cowal / Clyde Sealochs Coastal catchment of the Scotland River basin district. It was awarded an overall status of ‘moderate’ in 2024 by SEPA (Water Classification Hub).

‘Loch Long (North)’ (ID: 200051) is a coastal water body in the Scotland River basin district. At its closest point lies approximately 40m west from the scheme. It was awarded an overall status of ‘good’ in 2024 by SEPA (Water Classification Hub).

A number of unnamed and unclassified surface waterbodies and/or culverted drainage channels lie within 300m of the scheme.

The scheme falls within an area that has no likelihood of river water flooding each year. However, the A83 carriageway within the scheme does fall within a low likelihood (0.1% chance) of coastal flooding each year and a medium likelihood (0.5% chance) of surface water and small watercourse flooding each year (SEPA Flood Maps).

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).