Cross Tay Link Road Environmental Clerk of Works
The Cross Tay Link Road (CTLR) project is a circa £150 million construction project in Perthshire, Scotland, the largest infrastructure development ever undertaken by Perth and Kinross Council (PKC).
We were commissioned under the Excel framework by Perth and Kinross Council planning enforcement team and appointed as the EnvCoW for the CTLR project. This significant development includes the construction of a 300-metre road bridge over the River Tay, one of Scotland's largest river catchments. As part of the project, 7km of new roadways will offer an alternative route to ease congestion in Perth's city centre, reduce journey times, and improve air quality.
- Client Perth and Kinross Council
- Services Environment and Sustainability
Environmental excellence in the Cross Tay Link Road development
The CTLR is the first major infrastructure project in Scotland requiring an independent EnvCoW and our collaborative approach strengthened the project's overall environmental management. The CTLR project necessitated the establishment of strong relationships with key site staff from the outset. This collaboration improved our ability to monitor the environmental concerns that were addressed and ensured that our role within the project was clearly understood.
In our capacity as the EnvCoW, we maintained regular communication with the PKC project team. We worked closely with the contractor, BAM Nuttall, and PKC during site visits to raise awareness of the environmental issues we identified, such as runoff from compounds and earthworks. These findings were then discussed with the project team and formally reported to the PKC planning department. Additionally, we submitted weekly and monthly reports to SEPA, who conducted their own monthly site inspections.
Strengthening compliance and collaboration: The role of an independent EnvCoW
An independent EnvCoW enhances the project's accountability to the planning department through impartial monitoring and motivates the site team to take greater responsibility for their environmental performance.
Through our involvement, we identified areas where improvements in environmental compliance may be needed whilst also demonstrating the potential for strong partnerships and collaboration between the EnvCoW, planning enforcement teams and SEPA. This collaborative approach fostered continuous improvement and strengthened the project's overall environmental management.
Over the course of three years, the CTLR project involved the construction of a 300-metre road bridge across the River Tay, along with 7 kilometres of new roadways on both sides. The River Tay has a large catchment of 5,200 square kilometres and is home to Salmon, freshwater Pearl Mussels and, recently, Beavers.
The CTLR will provide an important alternative route, redirecting traffic away from the congested city centre of Perth. This will help reduce journey times for local residents and improve air quality.
We were dedicated to resourcing the CTLR project as locally as possible whilst supported by specialists from around the country. Overall this minimised travel hours and resulted in significant carbon savings, reducing the overall carbon footprint of the project.
Beyond environmental sustainability, we also focused on social engagement and community benefit initiatives. Through active involvement with the local community, we provided valuable charitable and educational support, reinforcing our commitment to both environmental and social responsibility.
For more information on the CTLR project and Environmental Compliance on major infrastructure projects please contact our discipline lead Dave Sargent.
