Appendix 2: Sustainability Appraisal Framework

Economic

1

To design, build and operate a reliable crossing

To reduce the number of planned daytime² lane FRC closures³ (excluding the hard shoulder) compared to existing Forth Road Bridge (FRB)

Predicted¹ number of planned closures

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Χ

Χ

Χ

Actual⁴ number of planned closures

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Χ

To reduce the number of unplanned lane closures on the FRC caused by non-weather events (e.g. vehicle breakdowns) compared to existing FRB

Predicted number of unplanned (non-weather) closures⁵

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Χ

Χ

Χ

Actual number of unplanned (non-weather) closures

√

Χ

To reduce the number of FRC closures⁶ due to adverse weather conditions compared to existing FRB

Predicted number of closures to any class of vehicle due to adverse weather conditions

√

Χ

Χ

Χ

Actual number of closures to any class of vehicle due to adverse weather conditions

√

Χ

2

To contribute to the improvement of cross-Forth access to economic opportunities

To contribute towards improved journey time reliability⁷

Percentage of road journeys that do not take longer than 115% of the average journey time (Traffic Scotland Local Trunk Road Congestion Indicator 4)

√

Χ

Χ

Χ

To contribute towards increasing the employment catchment areas of major centres of economic activity by public transport.

The proposed scheme is designed to not preclude improvements in public transport, but responsibility for their delivery (and therefore monitoring) lies beyond the scope of this project. An indicator for monitoring this target has not been identified

Χ

Χ

Χ

To contribute to the reduction of lost travel time associated with traffic congestion

Average time lost per vehicle kilometre⁸

√

Χ

Χ

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3

To contribute towards the development of cross-Forth public transport opportunities

Maximise the opportunities for multi-modal travel across the Forth Estuary

Provision of cross-Forth infrastructure to facilitate multi-modal transport

√

Χ

Χ

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4

To minimise the scheme footprint and severance of land

Minimise land-take for the scheme

Proportion (%) of land returned to agricultural use

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Χ

Proportion (%) of landholdings, businesses, residential properties and areas of community land significantly affected as a result of land take

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Χ

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Χ

Absolute area of agricultural land lost by land type⁹

Minimise the negative impacts of land severance

Proportion (%) of affected agricultural land holdings where the degree of severance less than 10% of the total land holding

√

Χ

Χ

Χ

Proportion (%) of land holdings affected by severance where access will be maintained through the provision of new or upgraded overbridges/underpasses as part of the scheme or through accommodation works

√

Χ

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Χ

5

To adopt sustainable resource management in design and construction

Develop a sustainable resource management framework

A sustainable resource management strategy in place and in use

√

Χ

Χ

Χ

Minimise material use through careful design and adopting material reduction measures

Development of a specific materials plan¹⁰

√

Χ

Χ

Χ

Percentage reduction in specific materials from Stage 3 design

√

Χ

Χ

Χ

Social

6

To ensure that community engagement takes place at all the key stages in the FRC project process as set out in 'Engaging with Communities'

To make sure that all groups whose interests are affected by the proposed scheme are identified and have access to information and opportunity to engage

Demonstrate a thorough and inclusive stakeholder identification process

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Χ

Χ

Χ

To select appropriate methods of engagement for target audiences and to make sure information is made available at appropriate stages in the project

Range of methods of engagement and communication channels

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Χ

Χ

Delivery of consultation commitments in ‘Engaging with Communities’

√

Χ

Χ

To provide opportunity for two-way dialogue and ensure stakeholder feedback is considered during the design development process

Facilities for stakeholders to feed into the project development

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Demonstrate stakeholder comment has been taken into consideration during the project development

√

Χ

Χ

7

To improve local accessibility and reduce community severance

Reduce community severance by reducing traffic on local roads within 400m¹² of the main carriageway centre line

Number of pedestrian/cycle paths which would experience a reduction in traffic flows at non-signalised road crossing points¹¹

√

Χ

Χ

Χ

Improve walking and cycling provision and integration within the scheme catchment

Number of paths/cycleways improved/created/disrupted

√

Χ

Χ

Χ

Contribute to the improvement of access to public transport

Percentage increase in the number of households within 400m¹² of a high frequency bus service

√

Χ

Χ

Χ

8

To provide a scheme that accommodates the needs of disabled people

Ensure all non-motorised user routes impacted by the scheme are designed in accordance with Transport Scotland’s "Disability Discrimination Act Good Practice Guide for Roads"

The number of pedestrian or cyclist networks retained or amended on their current alignment, or aligned in accordance with Transport Scotland’s "Disability Discrimination Act Good Practice Guide for Roads".

√

Χ

Χ

Χ

Ensure the needs of disabled people are given due consideration in the design of all aspects of the scheme

Consideration of disabled access in the development of the design.

√

Χ

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Χ

Emergency telephones accessible to disabled people

√

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Temporary footpaths/ cycleway diversions during construction in accordance with Transport Scotland’s "Disability Discrimination Act Good Practice Guide for Roads"

√

Χ

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9

To contribute to the promotion of healthy lifestyle opportunities and social inclusion

Maintain the quality and accessibility of open or green space¹³

The number of open/green spaces in the vicinity of the scheme experiencing significant positive/negative effects, measured according to direct loss, effects on amenity, views and accessibility

√

Χ

Χ

Χ

√

Χ

Χ

Χ

Seek to create direct employment opportunities for local people including those in deprived communities

Training places provided that are recognised and accredited by the CITB-Construction Skills and which lead to a qualification of at least Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) Level 2 or higher.

√

Χ

Χ

Training places provided that are recognised and accredited by Professional Bodies (such as the Institution of Civil Engineers) leading to membership of the Professional Body.

√

Χ

The number of employment opportunities for those who are currently long-term unemployed.

√

Χ

Proportion of training and employment opportunities taken by local people, and for residents of deprived areas.

√

Χ

Contribute to the improvement in public transport access to economic opportunities where this is a factor in deprivation

Public Transport journey times to key economic centres¹⁴ in the region for communities where geographic access is a factor in high levels of deprivation

√

Χ

Χ

Χ

Avoid increasing health inequalities during the construction process

Proportion of the population in deprived communities directly affected by construction impacts¹⁵

√

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Proportion of the population in non-deprived communities directly affected by construction impacts

10

To provide a safe design for both vehicle travellers and non-motorised users

To reduce the risk/likelihood of accidents as compared to existing FRB

Predicted accident rates¹⁶

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Χ

Χ

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Actual accident rates¹⁷

√

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Environmental

11

To reduce, reuse and recycle materials and products where practicable

Minimise absolute volumes and difference between cut and fill earthworks quantities

Predicted cut and fill design volumes¹⁸

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Χ

Χ

Predicted cut and fill design volumes¹⁹

√

Χ

Χ

Actual cut and fill volumes achieved

√

Χ

Predicted and actual proportions by volume of cut material that is used on site as part of the works

√

Χ

Χ

Χ

Predicted and actual proportions by volume of fill material that is site won (including modified material)

√

Χ

Χ

Χ

Actual proportion by volume of material present on site that has been incorporated into the project as opposed to being disposed of off site

√

Χ

Χ

Χ

Actual quantities of recycled materials used during construction

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Maximise % of earthworks materials sourced locally

Predicted % materials sourced locally — within 10km²⁰

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Χ

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Χ

Predicted % materials sourced locally — within 80km ²⁴

√

Χ

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Actual % materials sourced locally— within 10km ²⁴

√

Χ

Actual % materials sourced locally — within 80km ²⁴

√

Χ

Maximise use of reused/recycled products

Predicted²¹ % of materials used that are from recycled sources

√

Χ

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Χ

Actual % of materials used that are from recycled sources

√

Χ

Promote the restoration and development of brownfield/contaminated sites within areas affected by the scheme

Area of brownfield/contaminated land brought back into beneficial use, according to environmental risk²²

√

Χ

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Χ

12

To minimise embodied energy and carbon associated with the construction of the scheme

Seek to minimise the embodied energy and carbon associated with key materials and their transport to site

Estimated embodied energy and carbon²³

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Χ

Actual embodied energy and carbon in materials, transportation and waste

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Χ

Minimise energy use and all carbon emissions during construction

Predicted²⁴ energy requirement and CO₂ emissions

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Χ

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Actual energy used and CO₂ emissions

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13

To minimise carbon emissions once the scheme is opened to traffic

Seek to reduce CO₂ emissions from vehicles crossing the Forth at Queensferry compared with existing FRB

Predicted CO₂ emissions per veh-km²⁵

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Χ

Χ

Χ

Minimise the energy requirements of the scheme (once it is open to traffic) to the minimum necessary for safe operation

Predicted²⁶ energy requirements

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Χ

Actual energy requirement

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Maximise % of required energy for the scheme (once opened to traffic) acquired from renewable sources

Predicted²⁷ energy sources

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Actual energy sources

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14

To protect and enhance the natural heritage including local biodiversity

To minimise number of sites designated for natural heritage conservation and protected species affected and significance of any adverse impacts

Number and type of sites (e.g. international and local) and protected species impacted and significance of predicted impacts²⁸

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√

Χ

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Χ

Actual impacts on sites and protected species during construction²⁹

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To protect and enhance biodiversity

Number of watercourses impacted and significance of predicted impacts³⁰

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√

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Χ

Χ

Actual number of watercourses impacted and significance of impacts³¹

√

√

Χ

Actual impacts on water quality³⁵

√

Χ

Number of reported roadkills of protected species³²

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Percentage area of new habitats compared with areas lost³³

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Number of new records of species and habitats of nature conservation value³⁴

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15

To protect the landscape, historic environment and cultural heritage

Develop alignment and design to avoid or minimise impacts on the landscape resource and character, and setting of cultural heritage features

Reported significance of residual landscape effects³⁵

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Χ

Χ

Χ

Χ

Number of and significance of direct and indirect residual effects on cultural heritage sites³⁹

√

√

Χ

Χ

Χ

Actual number of and significance of direct and indirect residual effects on archaeological sites and monuments³⁹

√

√

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16

To reduce noise and air emissions

Manage effectively, construction noise impacts and reduce and mitigate significant operational noise impacts where practicable

Noise level changes and associated changes in nuisance levels at quantified numbers of dwellings/groups of dwellings within 600m in accordance with DMRB methodology

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Χ

Number of legitimate complaints about noise nuisance

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Air quality limit values (absolute concentrations) not to be exceeded (40µg/m3 for NO₂; 18µg/m³ for PM₁₀) at selected residential properties and other sensitive receptors³⁶

Absolute concentrations (µg/m³) for NO₂ and PM₁₀ at selected residential properties and other sensitive receptors⁴⁹

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Χ

Χ

Χ

Χ

Dust deposition to be contained within rate limit values

Dust deposition rates during construction that exceed 200mg/m²/day

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Dust deposition rates for biological SSSIs that exceed 1000mg/m²/day

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17

To protect water quality, geomorphology and maximise the use of sustainable drainage systems for environmental and hydrological benefit

Limit impacts and significance of residual effects on water quality and pass majority of runoff through SUDS

Percentage of mainline³⁷ drainage passing through SUDS

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Limit watercourse re-alignments and limit number of watercourse crossings

Attainment of CAR Licence

√

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Χ