Description of local environment

Air quality

The immediate scheme extents are enclosed by dense vegetation and mature trees. The wider surrounding landscape is predominantly characterised by businesses, industrial premises and residential dwellings with the River Clyde to the south.

There are approximately 25 residential properties located within 200m of the scheme extents, the closest being approximately 85m south of the NB carriageway along Inzievar Terrace. Other sensitive air quality receptors include the following:

St Joachim's RC Church located approximately 105m south of the scheme extents;
St Joachim’s Primary School located 157m south of the scheme extents, and;
Carmyle New Park and Garden located 114m south of the scheme extents.

The primary factor affecting baseline air quality is traffic along the M74 road network combined with residential and industrial activities within the surrounding area of Carmyle and Fullarton. Manual count point 93203, located within the scheme extents along the NB carriageway, shows that the Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) for all motor vehicles was 6,178 with 378 (6%) of these being Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

Glasgow City Council have declared one Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs), Glasgow City AQMA, located approximately 5.5km west of the works, has declared Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) in 2002 but amended Particulate Matter of a diameter less than 10 microns (PM₁₀) and NO₂in 2007.

Cabot Norit (UK) Ltd, Glasgow Scottish Pollutant Release Site is located approximately 889m southwest of the works. This site produced Carbon dioxide (CO₂), Carbon monoxide (CO) and Sulphur oxides (SO).

There are no real-time Air Quality Monitoring Stations (Air Quality in Scotland) located within 200m of the works area.

Cultural heritage

A desk-based assessment has been undertaken using Pastmap online mapping tool. The study area covered a 300m radius for designated cultural heritage assets and a 200m radius for non-designated cultural heritage assets.

There are no Conservation Areas located within 200m of the scheme extents.

Full details of designated and non-designated assets can be found in Table 1 and Table 2 below.

Table 1: Designated Cultural Heritage Assets within 300m
Name	Reference number	Description	Distance from scheme
Gate, St Joachim's R.C. Church and Presbytery, 101-103 Inzievar Terrace, Carmyle, Glasgow	LB33670	Listed Building - Cat C	Approx. 128m south of the scheme extents
St Joachim's R.C. Church and Presbytery, 101-103 Inzievar Terrace, Carmyle, Glasgow	LB33670	Listed Building - Cat C	Approx. 131m south of the scheme extents

Table 2: Non-designated Cultural Heritage Assets within 200m
Name	Reference number	Description	Distance from scheme
Glasgow, Carmyle Avenue, Carmyle Station	164056	National Monuments Record (NMR) - Railway Station (19th Century) - (20th Century)	Approx. 84m south of the NB scheme extents
Glasgow, Carmyle, 101-103 Inzievar Terrace, St Joachim's R.C. Church and Presbytery, Gate	172519	NMR - Gate (Period Unassigned)	Approx. 100m south of the NB scheme extents
Glasgow, Carmyle, 101-103 Inzievar Terrace, St Joachim's R.C. Church and Presbytery	172518	NMR - Church (20th Century), Presbytery (Post Medieval)	Approx. 90m south of the NB scheme extents

Landscape and visual effects

The scheme is located along the M74 NB and SB carriageways, north of Carmyle in Glasgow City. The immediate scheme extents are enclosed by dense vegetation and mature trees. Carmyle train station is located approximately 74m south of the NB works with the railway line running below the scheme extents. The wider surrounding landscape is predominantly characterised by businesses, industrial premises and residential dwellings with the River Clyde to the south.

There are no distinctive cultural landscape or historical landscape features within the scheme extents.

There are no Landscape Designations, including Ancient Woodlands, National Scenic Areas (NSAs), Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) or Gardens and Designed Landscapes, located within 500m of the scheme extents.

According to Scotland’s Landscape Character Type (LCT) Map, the LCT within the scheme extents can be classed as both ‘0 – Urban’ and ‘206 - Broad Urban Valley’ characterised by the following:

Mosaic of derelict, contaminated, restored and active industrial sites between Carmyle and Newton.
High visual influence of neighbouring urban areas.
Large part of the valley occupied by Strathclyde Country Park, comprising a large waterbody, woodland, grassland and a limited amount of recreation-related development.
Visual, aural and severance effects of major transport corridors, including the M74 which is a significant feature.
Large areas influenced by industrial, mineral and waste activities.
Dereliction, contamination and fragmentation of land.
Past developments have resulted in significant modifications to landscape character and loss of landscape features.
Broad sections of main river valley with well-defined floodplain.

Scotland’s Historic Land Use Assessment (HLA) Map has identified that the land within the scheme extents has been previously used as ‘Motorway and Major Roads’. This modern transport systems have focussed on the construction and extension of multi-laned motorways, with their associated service stations. Providing links between major cities, they cover considerable areas of land.

Visual

Only a small number of residential properties are anticipated to have views of the works along the southbound carriageway, specifically those situated on Hamilton Road. Although these properties are not in close proximity to the works, the open space between the construction area and the dwellings allows for visibility. It is not expected that there will be any visual receptors of works occurring along the NB carriageway.

Transient visual receptors include road users (motorists, public transport users) travelling along the M74, who will experience brief and intermittent views of the scheme. Typically, the views from the carriageway are pockets of woodland, with community area in the wider surroundings.

The following Core Paths can be found within 300m of the scheme extents:

Core Path C97A is located Carmyle Avenue perpendicular to the scheme extents;
Core Path CR/5674/1 is located 255m south of the scheme extents;
Core Path C97 is located 80m north of the scheme extents, and;
Core Path CR/5676/1 is located 59m south of the scheme extents.

Users of these core paths are not expected to have significant views of the works.

Biodiversity

Protected Areas

A desktop study using NatureScot’s online research tool, Sitelink, has not identified any European designated sites that have connectivity or lie within 2km of the works area. This resource has not identified the presence of national designations (such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or Local Nature Reserves) within 200m of the scheme extents.

No Tree Preservation Orders are located within 500m of the scheme extents.

Watercourses

Please see Road drainage and the water environment section below for details.

Field survey

As works will be undertaken within the carriageway verges, a field survey was undertaken by two Amey Ecologists on 6^th January 2026. This survey highlighted the following key constraints:

The woodland and dense scrub recorded within and surrounding the proposed works area offers suitable foraging, commuting and nesting habitat for a variety of species.
The Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) cotoneaster (Cotoneaster sp.), snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) and buddleia (Buddleja davidii) were present at various locations within the proposed works area.

Invasive plants

Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) has recorded rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium) (specific to the SB carriageway verge) and common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris), injurious weeds and Transport Scotland (TS) target species along the verges of the M74 carriageway within the scheme extents.

The only Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) recorded within 500m of the works by the NBN Atlas is Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica).

Geology and soils

Geology

There are no Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS), Local Geodiversity Sites or any Geological SSSIs that have connectivity or are within 200m of the scheme extents as noted by NatureScot’s Sitelink.

According to Britain’s Geology Viewer, the geology along the M74, within the scheme extents, consists of the following:

Bedrock Geology

Scottish Middle Coal Measures Formation - Sedimentary rock cycles, coal measure type. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 318 and 315.2 million years ago during the Carboniferous period.

Superficial Deposits

Raised Marine Beach Deposits, Late Devensian - Sand and gravel. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago during the Quaternary period.
Superficial Deposits - Sediment. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 2.588 million years ago and the present during the Quaternary period.
Glaciofluvial Deposits, Devensian - Sand and gravel. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago during the Quaternary period.

Soils

According to Scotland’s Soils Map, the component soil within the proposed scheme location can be classed as brown earths found on mounds and terraces with gentle and strong slopes. Towards the eastern extents of the works, no soil data is available, this is likely due to the urbanised, built-up nature of the location.

Land use

The national scale land capability for agriculture can be identified as 3.1. This land is 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.

Patersons Waste Management Ltd Landfill Site is located approximately 980m northeast of the SB ‘end’ point. No other operational landfill sites located within 1km of the works.

Material assets and waste

Materials

Key Materials Required for Activities

Construction

Materials Required TS2010 surface course
AC20 bituminous binder
AC32 bituminous base
Fuel
Road paint
Road studs
Sign face and post
Reference marker
Filter stone

Sources

TS2010 Surface Course allows a wider array of aggregate sources to be considered when compared to typical Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA). As a result, the use of TS2010 will reduce the usage of imported aggregates and increase the use of a wider range of sustainable aggregate sources.
A proportion of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) is used in asphalt production. Typical RAP values for base and binder are 10% -15% with up to 10% in surface course.
Some material may be derived from primary resources, such as the road paint.
The use of Super-Low Carbon materials are being considered for this scheme, which is an asphalt solution that integrates biogenic materials into the bitumen to retain carbon.

Materials will be obtained from recycled, secondary, or re-used origin as far as practicable within the design specifications to reduce natural resource depletion and associated emissions. For example, the binder and base courses used for resurfacing will contain a percentage of recycled material.

Wastes

Coal tar was not identified during investigation stages. Anticipated wastes from the proposed works are listed below.

Key Waste Produced by Activities

Construction

Waste Produced Asphalt planings
Road paint
Road studs
Sign face and post
Reference marker
Filter stone

Disposal

All waste will be disposed of following regulations of the Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (EASR).
However, where planings meet SEPA’s criteria, they will be fully recycled. All special waste, such as road paint, must be transport by suitable licenced contractor and must be accompanied by correctly completed special waste consignment note (SWCN) providing information about the waste, the producer and the person the waste is being handed to; the SWCN must be kept for three years, the Site Responsible Manager is responsible for ensuring these are retained onsite.

The proposed scheme requires a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) as the total value is over £350,000.

Noise and vibration

The scheme is located in an urban area, where the baseline noise levels are primarily influenced by traffic on the M74 road network, with secondary sources from community and residential activities. For the AADF details, please refer to the Air Quality section above.

St Joachim's RC Church located approximately 105m south of the scheme extents;
Foxley Bowling Club is located approximately 204m north of the scheme extents;
Carmyle Primary School is located approximately 275m south of the scheme extents;
St Joachim’s Primary School located 157m south of the scheme extents, and;
Carmyle New Park and Garden located 114m south of the scheme extents.

According to Scotland’s Noise Map, modelled day-time noise levels (L_day) in the areas surrounding the carriageway show levels of around 62-65dB and within the proposed works between 73-78dB. Nighttime noise level (L_night) in the areas surrounding the carriageway show levels of around 55-57dB and within the proposed works 69-70dB.

The works do not fall within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) as highlighted by Transport Scotland’s Transportation Noise Action Plan (TNAP) (2019-2023) and Glasgow Agglomeration Action Plan.

Population and human health

The primary land use within the surrounding area is predominantly used for industrial, residential and community activities.

The M74 carriageway within the proposed working areas lie north of Carmyle in Glasgow City. This section of the M74 links to towns such as Broomhouse and Fullerton prior to linking to settlements with cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh. Carmyle contains community facilities including educational facilities and recreational grounds with a greater abundance and complexity of these facilities found within the city of Glasgow.

There are approximately 90 residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents, the closest being approximately 85m south of the NB carriageway along Inzievar Terrace. There are no direct access/egress points to residential properties within the scheme extents, however, the NB and SB carriageway slip roads do provide access to the wider community. Key community assets include the following:

St Joachim's RC Church located approximately 105m south of the scheme extents;
Foxley Bowling Club is located approximately 204m north of the scheme extents;
Carmyle Primary School is located approximately 275m south of the scheme extents;
St Joachim’s Primary School located 157m south of the scheme extents, and;
Carmyle New Park and Garden located 114m south of the scheme extents.

The M74 carriageway, along both the NB and SB carriageways, is street-lit. There are no laybys, footpaths, Public Rights of Way (PRoW) or any bus stops located directly adjacent to or within the works area.

The following Core Paths can be found within 300m of the scheme extents:

Core Path C97A is located Carmyle Avenue perpendicular to the scheme extents;
Core Path CR/5674/1 is located 255m south of the scheme extents;
Core Path C97 is located 80m north of the scheme extents, and;
Core Path CR/5676/1 is located 59m south of the scheme extents.

There are no National Cycle Network Routes or any bridleways located within 300m of the works on both carriageways.

Road drainage and the water environment

There are no watercourses located within 500m of the scheme extents or any ponds located 250m of the works on both carriageways as indicated by SEPA’s Water Classification Hub.

Drainage along the scheme extents consists of open-top gullies and catchpits.

Flood risk

SEPA’s Flood Risk Map indicates that certain localised areas near the end of the SB scheme are expected to face a medium to high probability (0.5–10%) of surface water floodingeach year.

Groundwater

Groundwater within the scheme extents consists of both Glasgow and Motherwell groundwater (ID: 150677) which has an overall poor quality, and Carmyle and Tollcross Sand and Gravel groundwater which has an overall good quality as identified with the Water Framework Directive (WFD).

The works do not fall within a Scottish Government Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).

Climate

Carbon Goals

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, as amended by the Scottish Carbon Budgets Amendment Regulations 2025 sets out the statutory framework for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Scotland. The prior annual and interim targets have been replaced by five-year carbon budgets, which sets limits on the amount of GHGs that can be emitted in Scotland.

The proposed carbon budgets are aligned with advice from the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) and calculated in accordance with the 2009 Act. The 2025 Regulations define the baseline years for emissions reductions as 1990 for greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, and 1995 for others such as hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulphur hexafluoride (as set out in Section 11 of the Act). The budgets are as follows:

2026 - 2030: Average emissions to be 57% lower than baseline.
2031 - 2035: Average emissions to be 69% lower than baseline.
2036 - 2040: Average emissions to be 80% lower than baseline
2041 - 2045: Average emissions to be 94% lower than baseline.

These budgets are legally binding and will be supported by a new Climate Change Plan, which will outline the specific policies and actions required to meet the targets.

Transport Scotland remains committed to reducing carbon across Scotland’s transport network, this commitment is being enacted through the Mission Zero for Transport. Transport is the largest contributor to harmful climate emissions in Scotland, and Transport Scotland are committed to reducing their emissions by 75% by 2030 and to a legally binding target of net-zero by 2045.

Amey’s Company Wide Carbon Goal is to achieve Scope 1 and 2 net-zero carbon emissions, with a minimum of 80% absolute reduction on our emissions by 2035. Amey is aiming to be fully net-zero, including Scope 3 emissions, by 2040.

Amey are working towards a contractual commitment to have carbon neutral depots on the South West Network Management Contract (SW NMC) network by 2028. Amey have set carbon goals for the SW NMC contract as a whole to be net-zero carbon by 2032.

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