Residents, businesses and groups are being invited to guide the location of a new route which aims to cut congestion and boost business
Project overview
East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC)’s Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2) identifies the 370-hectare Westerhill site in Bishopbriggs as a regeneration area. The plan (Policy 3.R) also states that the area will be regenerated using a Masterplan process - to help deliver business opportunities and employment growth.
Key to the deliverability and success of the Masterplan will be the construction of the Westerhill Development Road (WDR), previously referred to as Phase 5 of the Bishopbriggs Relief Road (BRR5). The main aims of the new road are as follows:
Text alongside an aerial photo of the Westerhill site:
Project Overview
The Westerhill Development Road (WDR) will complete a route through East Dunbartonshire and the north of Glasgow, improving connectivity and providing accessto strategic development sites to enable future investment in the area. The project is part of East Dunbartonshire Council’s (EDC) City Deal Place and Growth Programme.
The project will support the objectives, challenges and needs identified in the City Deal Strategic Business Case which relate to traffic congestion and its impact on air quality and will enable improvements to sustainable travel routes in the A803 corridor.
Objectives
• Creation of a new development road through the Westerhill Regeneration Area
• Facilitate the delivery of the Westerhill Masterplan to allow future investment
• Enhance access to new and existing employment and services
• To avoid significant environmental impacts and to minimise the environmental effect
on greenspace
• Minimise whole life carbon emissions associated with the scheme
• Contribute to the overall improvement of the air quality across Bishopbriggs
• Promote the natural environment, heritage and communities
DMRB Stage 2: Route Option Assessment
Early 2023 – Late 2023 (Current Stage)
• Five route options have been developed to allow a comparison to
be carried out
• We will carry out ground investigations to determine the soil
properties under the proposed route options
• We are carrying out surveys to better confirm what important
wildlife and plant life exist in the surrounding area to better
understand the environmental constraints
• We are undertaking an engineering assessment of each route
option to determine how feasible they are to construct
• We have completed a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).
We have begun assessing the options against the environmental
constraints in the area and will carry out an Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA)
• We are modelling how the traffic is likely to flow on the route
options and will then bring this into an assessment of the economic
advantages and disadvantages of each route option
• We are consulting with the public and other stakeholders
• We will then bring the different aspects of these assessments
together and determine the preferred route option
• We will prepare an EIA Scoping Report to agree the scope of
environmental assessment in the next stage
DMRB Stage 3: Development of Preferred Option
Late 2023 – Late 2024
• We will continue to develop the preferred route option,
including final junction layouts and active travel facilities
• We will carry out additional environmental surveys
along the preferred route to monitor changes
• We will carry out a more detailed ground investigation
along the preferred route
• We will prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment
Report (EIAR) to confirm the environmental mitigation
and enhancement measures for inclusion in the design
• We will continue to consult the public and stakeholders
and incorporate feedback
• We will develop the design sufficiently to support the
planning application
Statutory Process: Planning Application & Selecting a Contractor
Mid 2024 – Mid 2025
• We will prepare the planning application
• We will consult the public and other stakeholders
• We will prepare the contract documentation including
specifications and stakeholder requirements
• A contractor will be selected to undertake the detailed
design and construction
Detailed Design & Construction
Early 2025 - Early 2027
• The contractor’s designer will complete the design with
enough detail for it to be constructed
• The contractor will construct the Westerhill
Development Road. Construction is planned to start in
mid-2025 and take approximately 18 months
• The area can then be developed further in accordance
with the Westerhill Masterplan
To help improve connectivity in the area as well as unlocking strategic development sites in Westerhill - enabling follow-on investment and creating jobs
Remove non-essential traffic from travelling through Bishopbriggs town centre
Alleviate air quality issues in relation to the A803
Support a well-connected workforce within East Dunbartonshire and the wider City Region
Promote improved road infrastructure, coupled with sustainable travel options in and out of East Dunbartonshire, particularly for commuting journeys
Help enable development of derelict/vacant land to provide space for local companies to grow, to attract other high-quality businesses and reduce barriers to jobs locally.
This project forms part of the Council’s £34.88m City Deal Place and Growth Programme – supported by the UK and Scottish Governments via the Glasgow City Region City Deal. The EDC City Deal projects are focused solely on Bishopbriggs and in addition to the WDR, include: the Westerhill Masterplan; Bishopbriggs town centre; and A803 Corridor Improvements.
How to navigate?
Graphic of feet and arrows pointing in different directions
You can scroll through the StoryMap or click on the headings in the contents bar at the top of the screen to move between sections. You can also enlarge images by double clicking them. When you are ready to comment, double-click the comment form link and you will be directed to an online feedback form.
What stage is the project at?
Since the beginning of this year, Council officers have been working with consultants Triskelion to help design various route options for the WDR. Five route options have been developed by the consultants and we are asking for your thoughts, likes and dislikes in relation to these options.
Are these the final designs?
No – the final route has not yet been decided. These five route options form part of the assessment stage of the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) process which allows comparisons to be drawn between each option. The comparisons relate to issues such as engineering assessments, site surveys, traffic modelling and ground investigations. The vast majority of this work will take place over the summer months. There is still a lot of work to be undertaken in order for the final route to be decided on.
Constraints Mapping
The design decisions undertaken to develop the various route options have been guided by the feedback and recommendations from various technical assessments and analysis, and stakeholder engagement. Additionally, desktop studies have been undertaken to inform the routes including: planning constraints; landscape and environmental surveys; utilities assessment; flood risk assessment; drainage assessment; and peat depth surveys.
We will also use the feedback we receive from this consultation period to feed into the options in order to help determine the preferred route option.
The information gathered from the desktop studies is illustrated in the four constraint maps below.
Map of Environmental Constraints
Map key - Environmental Constraints
Environmental Constraints 1
Environmental Constraints 2
Engineering Constraints
Map of Land Constraints
Land Constraints
Route Option A
This option proposes a new single carriageway of 2km in length and utilises the existing road network as far as is possible.
Map of Route A - accompanied by text on the StoryMap
The route begins at Lochgrog Roundabout (Bishopbriggs Relief Road - Phase 4) and follows the eastern edge of HMP Low Moss, connecting with a new four-arm roundabout which provides access to the prison as well as to the existing Crosshill Road.
An additional new three-arm roundabout will provide access to Bishopbriggs Golf Range and Loretto playing fields, whilst the existing roundabout between Cole Road and Crosshill Road will be upgraded.
The trees along Cole Road with Tree Protection Orders are likely to be impacted with this option.
The Antonine Wall buffer zone would also be impacted.
A new Torrance Roundabout would be constructed as part of this option.
Route Option B
This option proposes a new single carriageway of 1.9km in length and utilises the existing road network in so far as is possible.
Map of Route B - accompanied by text on the StoryMap
The route begins at Lochgrog Roundabout (Bishopbriggs Relief Road - Phase 4) and follows the eastern edge of HMP Low Moss, connecting with a new four-arm roundabout which provides access to the prison as well as to the existing Crosshill Road.
An additional new three-arm roundabout will be constructed northeast of the prison.
The route would then travel northwest of this roundabout towards the Torrance Roundabout and would include a new access to Bishopbriggs Golf Range and the Loretto playing fields, as well as a new access to the proposed cemetery extension site.
This route would cut through the Glacial Meltwater Channel requiring engineering works.
The route cuts through a section of the Loretto playing fields.
This route would impact the proposed cemetery extension site.
The Antonine Wall buffer zone would also be impacted.
A new Torrance Roundabout would be constructed as part of this option.
Route Option C
This option proposes a new single carriageway of 2.7km in length and utilises the existing road network in so far as is possible.
Map of Route C - accompanied by text on the StoryMap
The route begins at Lochgrog Roundabout (Bishopbriggs Relief Road - Phase 4) and follows the northern edge of the Cadder Plantation Local Nature Conservation Site to connect with the existing Crosshill Road with a new three-arm roundabout.
A new three-arm roundabout would be constructed along Crosshill Road to provide access to the proposed crematorium which was recently given planning approval.
A new four-arm roundabout east of HMP Low Moss would provide access to the prison as well to Commutaports business and Crosshill Road.
A further new three-arm roundabout would provide access to Bishopbriggs Golf Range and the Loretto playing fields.
An area of deep peat exists to the east and south of the proposed crematorium site.
There is a significant Scottish Water Trunk Main along the western edge of Crosshill Road.
The trees along Cole Road with Tree Protection Orders would likely be impacted with this option.
The Antonine Wall buffer zone would also be impacted.
A new Torrance Roundabout would be constructed as part of this option.
Route Option D
This option proposes a new single carriageway of 2.1km in length and utilises the existing road network as far as possible.
Map of Route D - accompanied by text on the StoryMap
The route begins at Lochgrog Roundabout (Bishopbriggs Relief Road - Phase 4) and follows the northern edge of the Cadder Plantation Local Nature Conservation Site to connect with the existing Crosshill Road with a new three-arm roundabout.
A new four-arm roundabout east of HMP Low Moss would provide access to the proposed crematorium site.
The route would then travel north through the Barrage Balloon Site and Bishopbriggs Golf Range, to tie in with the A803 at a new three-arm roundabout.
An area of deep peat exists to the east and south of the proposed crematorium site.
There is a significant Scottish Water Trunk Main along the western edge of Crosshill Road.
This route would cut through the Glacial Meltwater Channel requiring engineering works.
The Antonine Wall buffer zone would be impacted.
A new Torrance Roundabout would be constructed as part of this option
Route Option E
This option proposes a new single carriageway of 3km in length and utilises the existing road network in so far as is possible.
Map of Route E - accompanied by text on the StoryMap
It follows the northern edge of the Cadder Plantation Local Nature Conservation Site and connects to Crosshill Road on the bend west of Boghead Road with a new roundabout.
There is a significant Scottish Water main along the western edge of Crosshill Road.
An area of deep peat exists to the east and south of the proposed crematorium site.
The north of the route dissects Bishopbriggs Golf Range.
Crossing the glacial meltwater channel would require significant earthworks.
To avoid the Antonine Wall Scheduled Monument, a new roundabout would need to be constructed south of the A803 Kirkintilloch Road with a significant section of the A803 requiring new-build road infrastructure.
A new Torrance Roundabout would be constructed as part of this option.
Have your say
We welcome opinions and feedback from all members of the public. We would like to hear from people who visit, live, work or travel in and around Bishopbriggs and the wider area. Your views, opinions and insights are valuable to us and will help shape the guidance.
Please take a minute to tell us what you think of the route options via our survey. Please note that all responses will be received anonymously and will only be used to inform the next stage of design development.
We are holding a public drop-in event on Monday 19 June in Bishopbriggs War Memorial Hall, Balmuildy Road G64 3BS - from 5pm until 8pm.
Please note you can also collect a physical paper copy of the proposals and a comment form from Bishopbriggs Library from Monday 29 May. If you require another format or language then please contact us using the email below.
Westerhill Development Road Consultation Survey
How long do I have to respond?
The consultation will run until 5pm on Thursday 22 June 2023. Please share this link with anyone you think would be interested in taking part.
Environmental Impact
The proposed route of the WDR will be underpinned by the production of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which is a requirement under Scottish legislation on large projects such as this. The EIA will assess the likely significant effects arising from the construction of the road along with the potential for reducing or offsetting any adverse impacts which may arise.
Image of EIA process - including text:
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
SEA is a process that evaluates the likely significant environmental effects of policies, plans, and programs before they are adopted or implemented. It is primarily aimed at integrating environmental considerations into the decision-making process, enabling the identification and mitigation of potential adverse impacts at the strategic level.
In Scotland, the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 provides the legislative framework for SEA. It requires public authorities to assess the environmental effects of certain plans and programs, including national and regional strategies, as well as sectoral policies. The SEA process involves screening, scoping, assessing, and reporting on the likely environmental effects of these plans and programs.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process is a systematic and comprehensive evaluation of the potential environmental effects of proposed projects. It is governed by the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 2017. The EIA process involves screening projects to determine if they require an assessment, scoping the assessment to identify potential impacts and assessment methods, preparing an Environmental Statement (ES) with detailed information on the project's impacts and proposed mitigation measures, consulting with relevant stakeholders and the public, and considering the ES in the decision-making process. The process aims to ensure that environmental considerations are taken into account in project planning and that appropriate measures are implemented to minimize adverse environmental effects.
The Link Between SEA and EIA
In Scotland, the link between Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is established through regulatory requirements aimed at ensuring the effective consideration of environmental factors in decision-making processes. Both SEA and EIA are important tools used to assess and manage the potential environmental impacts of plans, programs, and projects.
The link between SEA and EIA is established through the requirement for EIA as a follow-up to SEA. Once an SEA has been conducted for a plan or program, and it is determined that significant environmental effects are likely, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) may be required for subsequent projects falling within the scope of that plan or program.
EIA is a more detailed assessment carried out at the project level, focusing on specific proposals and their potential environmental impacts. It provides a systematic analysis of the likely effects on the environment, including natural and human aspects and aims to identify appropriate mitigation measures to minimize adverse impacts.
The SEA process, when properly conducted, can help identify the need for subsequent EIAs. It provides a broader understanding of the environmental context and potential impacts associated with a plan or program. The findings of SEA can inform the scoping and assessment phases of subsequent EIAs, ensuring that the environmental considerations identified in the SEA are adequately addressed and integrated into the project-level assessment.
In summary, the link between SEA and EIA in Scottish regulation involves the SEA process informing the need for subsequent EIAs. SEA provides a strategic-level assessment of plans and programs, while EIA focuses on the project level. Together, these assessments help ensure that environmental considerations are integrated into decision-making processes and that potential adverse impacts are identified and mitigated effectively.
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
(Completed)
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) evaluates environmental effects of policies and plans before adoption, integrating environmental considerations. In Scotland, the SEA process is mandated by the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005, requiring public authorities to assess environmental effects of certain plans, policies and/or programmes. SEA involves screening, scoping, assessing, and reporting on likely environmental impacts.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
(In Progress)
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) systematically evaluates potential environmental effects of proposed projects. Governed by the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 2017, it screens projects, scopes impacts, prepares an Environmental Statement (ES), and involves consultation. EIA ensures environmental considerations are addressed in project planning, aiming to minimize adverse effects.
Environmental Impact Assessment process
Work on this process is already underway with various ecological and environmental surveys being undertaken across the site. As the project evolves and a preferred route is determined, the survey work will become more focused and the potential adverse impacts of that route and the mitigation measures required, will become clearer.
It is also noted that this work builds upon the work undertaken for the Westerhill Masterplan which is supported by a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).
Next steps
Late 2023-late 2024
We will continue to develop the preferred route option, including junction layouts and active travel facilities. There will be further consultation with the public and stakeholders. See Project Overview for more information.
If you have any questions feel free to add them onto the final response box on the online form or email citydeal@eastdunbarton.gov.uk or click the button below.
