Description of local environment

Air quality

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

A search of the Air Quality in Scotland online mapping tool records show air quality monitoring sites in the wider areas with bandings in the ‘green zone’ (Low Index 1-3).

The scheme lies within the boundary of East Lothian Council, which has one active Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) within its administrative boundary. The AQMA, ‘High Street, Musselburgh’, lies approx. 35.3km west of the scheme extents (at its nearest point) and has been declared for nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

There are five sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) for pollutant releases to air within 10km of the scheme extents (in the last 10-years):

  • ‘Tarmac Limited, Dunbar Plant, East Lothian’ – mineral industry, declared for ammonia, antimony, arsenic, benzene, benzopyrene, beryllium, cadmium, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, chromium, copper, dioxins and furans, manganese, mercury, methane, naphthalene, nickel, nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, styrene, sulphur oxides, vanadium, and zinc (located approx. 0.4km east).
  • ‘Dunbar ERF, Dunbar’ – waste and waste-water management, declared for ammonia, arsenic, cadmium, carbon dioxide, chromium, dioxins and furans, hydrogen chloride, mercury, and nitrogen oxides (located approx. 0.4km east),
  • ‘Viridor Waste, Dunbar Landfill, Oxwell Mains, Dunbar’ – waste and waste-water management, declared for carbon monoxide, chlorofluorocarbons, dioxins and furans, ethyl toluene, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, methane, nitrogen oxides, para-dichlorobenzene, toluene, trichlorobenzene, and trimethylbenzene (located approx. 0.6km east),
  • ‘Torness Power Station, Dunbar’ – energy sector, declared for hydrochlorofluorocarbons (located approx. 3.1km southeast),
  • Top & Park Unit, Ruchlaw Mains Farm, Dunbar - Intensive livestock production and aquaculture, declared for ammonia and methane (located approx. 8.1km west).

The baseline air quality within the scheme extents is primarily influenced by motor vehicles travelling along the A1 trunk road. Secondary sources are derived from vehicles travelling along nearby local network roads, the nearby Dunbar Quarry and day-to-day agricultural land management activities. The Edinburgh to Berwick-upon-Tweed railway is located approx. 200m east of the scheme at the nearest point, as such, train movements may also have an impact.

Cultural heritage

The PastMap and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) online mapping tool records the following designated sites within 300m of the scheme extents:

  • The Battle of Dunbar II Inventory Battlefield (IB) boundary falls entirely within the scheme extents. In addition, the A1 northbound carriageway borders the Battle of Dunbar I IB.
  • Little Pinkerton, Settlement 110m N Of Scheduled Monument (SM) lies 300m west of the scheme extents.
  • One Listed Building is located within 300m of the scheme, which lies approx. 75m east of the scheme extents.

No other designated cultural heritage assets are located within 300m of the scheme extents.

Of lesser cultural heritage value, approx. 22 undesignated cultural heritage assets (UCHAs) lie within 300m of the scheme extents. The closest of which are as follows:

Oxwell Mains / Oxwellmains Historic Environment Record (HER) (ID: MEL2158), is located within the verge adjacent to the southbound carriageway within the scheme extents.

Oxwell Mains National Record of Historic Environment (NRHE) (ID: 90534) is located within the verge adjacent to the southbound carriageway within the scheme extents.

  • The remaining UCHA’s are located at least 15m from the scheme extents.

Construction of the A1 carriageway is likely to have removed any archaeological remains that may have been present within the carriageway boundary. The potential for the presence of unknown archaeological remains in the study area has therefore been assessed to be low.

Landscape and visual effects

The scheme is not situated within a National Park (NP) or National Scenic Area (NSA).

The Landscape Character Type (LCT) within the scheme extents is ‘Coastal Margins - Lothians’ (no. 277) (Scottish Landscape Character Types). The key characteristics of which are:

  • Undulating agricultural hinterland of smooth convex curves.
  • Shallow unobtrusive stream courses.
  • Diverse coastal scenery provided by prominent rounded headlands and extensive rocky cliffs at the coast, with quiet sheltered coves containing small sand and pebble beaches backed by grassy dunes.
  • Agricultural character with medium to large scale arable fields, contained by intermittent hedgerows and post-and-wire fences, although this has been fragmented in places to accommodate road, railway and power station development.
  • Stone walls edge roadsides and occasional field boundaries on higher slopes.
  • Stream courses delineated by scrub and broadleaf woodland.
  • Scattering of traditional farms, houses and steadings served by numerous twisting minor roads.
  • Parallel transport corridors of the A1 and rail line form significant linear features, with bridges, embankments and structures.
  • Recreational facilities such as picnic sites, caravan, and camping sites.
  • Extensive views of open sea and industrial development due to flat terrain and few woodlands.

Land use within the study area is comprised of the following:

  • Rough Grazing.
  • Industrial or Commercial Area.
  • Landfill Site.
  • Restored Agricultural Land.
  • Motorway and Major Roads.
  • Rectilinear Fields and Farms.
  • Managed Woodland.

The national scale land capability for agriculture classifies land surrounding the scheme as being:

  • ‘Class 2’ – Land capable of producing a wide range of crops.

Woodland within the study area consists of:

  • Two areas of broadleaved woodland registered on the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland (NWSS) database, which are comprised of, approx. 0.7ha and 1.6ha of lowland mixed deciduous woodland, border the SB carriageway within the scheme extents.
  • 1.65ha of mixed mainly broadleaved woodland, borders the SB carriageway within the scheme extents.
  • 2.9ha of mixed mainly broadleaved woodland, is located approx. 60m east of the scheme extents.
  • Approx 1.5ha of broadleaved woodland is located approx. 75m east of the scheme extents.and is registered on the NWSS
  • Approx 1.2ha of young tree woodland is located approx. 85m east of the scheme extents, is registered on the NWSS.
  • 2.9ha of mixed mainly broadleaved woodland, is located approx. 85m northeast of the scheme extents.
  • 2ha of broadleaved woodland, located approx. 250m southeast of the scheme extents and is registered on the NWSS.

There are no areas of woodland registered on the Ancient Woodland Inventory Scotland database or trees covered by a tree preservation order located within 300m of the scheme extents.

The existing trunk road is a prominent linear landscape feature. The trunk road corridor, for example, has a distinct character shaped by fast-flowing traffic, road markings, safety barriers, signage, landscaping, etc. The scale of the trunk road detracts from the quality and character of the wider landscape.

Biodiversity

The NatureScot Sitelink online mapping tools identifies that the:

  • The Firth of Forth Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar Site lies approx. 3.4km northwest of the scheme extents (at its nearest point (straight line distance)).
  • The Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrews Bay Complex SPA lies approx. 1.3km northeast of the scheme extents (at its nearest point (straight line distance)).

The Firth of Forth Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) underpins the Firth of Forth SPA.

There are no SSSI’s, Local Nature Conservation Sites (LNCS) or Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) designated for biodiversity features within 300m of the scheme extents.

A search of the NBN online mapping tool records the following injurious and invasive plant species as listed within the Network Management Contract (NMC), within 2km of the scheme extents (in the last 10-years):

Invasive non-native species (INNS):

  • Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera).

Found approx. 1.5km southeast of the scheme extents (recorded in 2025).

A search of the Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) online mapping tool records the following plant species within the verge of the A1 SB carriageway boundary within the scheme extents:

One invasive native perennial:

  • Rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium).

No INNS or injurious weeds are recorded within the verge of the SB carriageway boundary.

The habitat immediately bordering the A1 carriageway consists primarily of areas of arable land and managed grassland separated by field boundaries, semi-mature deciduous trees partially lining the carriageway boundary, mature hedgerows and scrub, and natural roadside vegetation (e.g., immature trees, shrubs etc.) and made verges which undergo cyclic maintenance (e.g., grass-cutting, weed control, etc.). While there is high availability of roadside vegetation, the habitat immediately bordering the trunk road is assessed to be of reduced ecological value, due to the likelihood of trunk road disturbances from high volume, fast-flowing traffic and that the A1 trunk road limits the connectivity and continuity for species between their potential habitats on either side of the road.

Geology and soils

The A1 within the scheme extents is not located within 300m of a Geological Conservation Review Site (GCRS) or a Local Geodiversity Site (LGS).

The National Soil Map of Scotland online mapping tool records that the generalised soil type and major soil group within the scheme extents is comprised of:

  • Alluvial soils.

The British Geological Survey online mapping tool records the superficial geology within the scheme extents as:

  • Alluvium-Clay, silt, sand and gravel
  • Glaciofluvial Deposits – Gravel, Sand, and Silt.

The bedrock geology within the scheme extents is recorded as:

  • Lower Limestone Formation-Interbedded limestone, argillaceous rocks and subordinate sandstone
  • Blackhall Limestone-Limestone
  • Hurlet Limestone-Limestone
  • Ballagan Formation- Sandstone, Siltstone, and Dolomitic Limestone.

There is no evidence if historical industrial processes or the storage of hazardous materials that could have given rise to significant land contamination within the scheme extents.

Given the restriction of the works to the A1 carriageway boundary, and the lack of any earthworks, local geology and soils are unlikely to be affected by the proposed works. Therefore, geology and soils has been scoped out of further environmental assessment.

Material assets and waste

The proposed works are required to resurface the worn carriageway and reinstate road markings. Materials used will consist of:

  • TS2010 10mm Agg Site Class 1.
  • AC20 Binder.
  • AC32 Base.
  • Tack/Bond Coat.
  • Paving Grade Bitumen.
  • Eurolite Thermoplastic Road Markings.
  • Embedded Road

The scheme has a value greater than £350,000. As a result, a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is required.

The scheme involves removal of the surface course and localised areas of binder. The main waste produced during the works will be 2759 tonnes of bituminous materials which will be removed from site, none of which has been classified as containing hazardous coal tar.

Noise and vibration

For properties within 300m of the scheme refer to “Population and Human Health.

Works are not located within a Candidate Quiet Areas (CQA).

The night-time modelled noise level (LGNT) within the scheme extents ranges between 70 and 75 decibels (dB), with levels dropping to between 60 and 65 dB at the nearest noise sensitive receptor (NSR) (residential property).

Baseline noise and vibration in the study area is mainly influenced by vehicles traveling along the A1 trunk road. Secondary sources are derived from vehicles travelling along nearby local network roads, the adjacent Dunbar Quarry and day-to-day agricultural land management activities. The Edinburgh to Berwick-upon-Tweed railway is located approx. 200m east of the scheme at the nearest point, as such, train movements will also have an impact.

Population and human health

Several residential properties, a farmstead, and industrial premises are located within 300m of the scheme extents. There are no residential properties located within 50m of the scheme extents; the closest are located 130m west of the scheme however they are fully screened from the scheme extents due to raised roadside embankment and tree shelterbelt.

There are no non-motorised user (NMU) facilities that share connectivity with the scheme extents, however one lay-by is present within the scheme extents.

Street lighting is not present throughout the scheme extents.

The A1, within the scheme extents, is a dual carriageway with national speed limit applying throughout. The Average Daily Traffic (ADT) flow is high (13,424 motor vehicles) (ID: JTC00076, 2026 data) (Drakewell Traffic Data).

Road drainage and the water environment

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) River Basin Management Plan online mapping tool records no classified surface waterbodies spanned by, culverted beneath or within 300m of the scheme extents.

Three unclassified waterbodies lie within 300m of the scheme extents:

  • ‘Drain1’, is culverted beneath the trunk road within the scheme extents and extents approx. 5m beyond either side of the carriageway.
  • ‘Waterbody1’ which lies approx. 10m west of the scheme extents, and
  • ‘Pond1’, which lies approx. 270m northeast of the scheme extents,

These waterbodies are considered to be too small (in terms of catchment area) to be classified as a main stem waterbody by SEPA under the (WFD).

A search of the SEPA’s Flood Map online mapping tool records that sections of the A1 carriageway within the southern scheme extents have between a low and high risk of surface water flooding each year. This means each year this area has been a 0.1% and 10% chance of flooding.

A search of the Scotland’s Environment (SE) online mapping tool determined that the trunk road, within the scheme extents, lies on the ‘Torness Coastal ‘and ‘Torness’ groundwaters which have both been classified as ‘Good’.

The scheme extents lie within the ‘Edinburgh, East Lothian and Borders’ Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ), designated for polluted water in 2015.

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).