Description of local enivroment

Air quality

Receptors – refer to ‘Population and Human Health’.

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

The scheme lies within the boundary of East Lothian Council, which has one Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) within its administrative boundary, ‘High Street, Musselburgh’, which lies approx. 26.1km west of the scheme extents 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:

  • Top and Park Unit, Ruchlaw Mains Farm, Dunbar – Intensive Livestock Production and Aquaculture, declared for ammonia and methane, which lies approx. 2.8km south of the scheme.
  • Tarmac Limited, Dunbar Plant, East Lothian – Mineral Industry, declared for ammonia, antimony, arsenic, benzene, benzopyrene, cadmium, carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide, chromium, copper, dioxins and furans as ITEQ, manganese, mercury, methane, naphthalene, nickel, nitrogen oxides (NO) as NO and NO2, non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), particulate matter as PM10 and smaller, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), styrene, sulphur oxides (SO) as SO2 and SO3, vanadium and zinc, which lies approx. 7.1km east of the scheme.
  • Dunbar Energy Recovery Facilities (ERF), Dunbar – Waste and Waste-Water Management, declared for cadmium, CO2, chromium, dioxins and furans as ITEQ, hydrogen chloride, mercury and NO and NO2, which lies approx. 7.3km east of the scheme.
  • Viridor Waste, Dunbar Landfill, Oxwell Mains, Dunbar – Waste and Waste-Water Management, declared for CO2, carbon monoxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), dioxins and furans as ITEQ, ethyl toluene – all isomers, hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), methane, NO and NO2, para-dichlorobenzene, toluene, trichlorobenzene – all isomers, trimethyl benzene – all isomers, which lies approx. 7.8km east of the scheme.
  • Appin Poultry Farm, Drem, East Lothian – Intensive Livestock Production and Aquaculture, declared for ammonia, which lies approx. 8.4km northwest of the scheme.

Baseline air quality in the study area is mainly influenced by vehicles travelling along the A1 trunk road. Secondary sources are derived from vehicles travelling along nearby local network roads and day-to-day agricultural land management activities.

Cultural heritage

The PastMap and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) online mapping tools records nine designated sites within 300m of the scheme extents, consisting of three scheduled monuments and six listed buildings, none of which have connectivity to the scheme (i.e., lie > 15m from the scheme). The closest designated site lies approx. 63m south of the scheme.

Of lesser cultural heritage value, nine undesignated cultural heritage assets (UCHAs) lie within 300m of the scheme extents, three of which have connectivity to the scheme:

  • Howmuir Farm Historic Environment Record (HER) lies within the scheme extents.
  • Knowes Farm HER lies within the scheme extents.
  • Knowes Farm Canmore (ID: 249961) lies within the northbound carriageway 5m south of the scheme extents.

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

While two UCHA’s are located within the scheme extents, the works will be restricted to the existing boundary and depth of the carriageway and will not be at risk of impacting these features. Therefore, this factor has no constraints that are likely to be impacted by the proposed works and has been scoped out of further environmental assessment.

Landscape and visual effects

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

The Landscape Character Type (LCT) within the study area is ‘Lowland Farmed Plain - Lothians’ (no. 275) (Scottish Landscape Character Types). The characteristics of ‘Lowland Farmed Plain – Lothians’ are:

  • Smoothly rolling, large-scale arable plain landforms with occasional igneous intrusions forming local landmarks.
  • Small streams forming shallow breaks in the smooth slopes, feeding into the broad meandering valley of the River Tyne.
  • High quality agricultural land, divided into a chequerboard pattern of fields with historic field pattern being retained in some areas. Field boundaries are defined by clipped hedges, scattered hedgerow trees, post and wire fences and occasional stone walls.
  • Occasional small-scale woodlands and shelterbelts relate to watercourses and reinforce field pattern.
  • Policy woodlands, estate houses and, buildings and boundary walls of several estates throughout the area create a historic character.
  • Numerous conservation villages spread throughout the Landscape Character Type with a scattering of farmsteads and small housing clusters, as well as larger settlement of Haddington.
  • Open views across the landscape to Edinburgh, the coast to the north, and hills to the south.

Land use within 300m of the scheme is categorised into the following:

  • Planned rectilinear fields and farms.
  • Motorway and major roads.
  • Rectilinear fields and farms.
  • Designed landscape.

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.
  • ‘Class 3.1’ - Land 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.

There are five areas of woodland on the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland (NWSS) within 300m of the scheme extents, all of which are assessed to be lowland mixed deciduous woodland:

  • 4.1ha lies approx. 26m south of the scheme.
  • 13ha lies approx. 159m south of the scheme.
  • 1.3ha lies approx. 211m south of the scheme.
  • 2.7ha of nearly-native lies approx. 98m south of the scheme.
  • 1ha of nearly-native lies approx. 186m north of the scheme.

In addition, four areas of woodland on the Ancient Woodland Inventory Scotland, all of which are assessed to be long-established of plantation origin, lie within 300m of the scheme extents:

  • 69.3ha lies within and borders the scheme to the north and south.
  • 6.1ha lies approx. 113m south of the scheme.
  • 5.5ha lies approx. 201m north of the scheme.
  • 1ha lies approx. 275m northeast of the scheme.

There are no trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) with connectivity to 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 tool identifies that the scheme lies approx. 1.1km north of the Firth of Forth Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar Site. The scheme does not share connectivity with or lie within 2km of any other European Sites.

The Firth of Forth Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) lies approx. 1.1km north of the scheme extents.

One Local Nature Conservation Site (LNCS) lies within 300m of the scheme extents:

  • River Tyne LNCS lies approx. 220m north of the western extents of the scheme.

There are no Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) designated for biodiversity features within 300m of the scheme extents.

The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) atlas holds records of numerous bird species within 2km over a ten-year period. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), all wild birds and their active nests (typically active March to August inclusive) are protected. No other species of conservation importance were identified within 2km (in the last 10 years). Only records with open-use attributions (OGL, CC0, CC-BY) were included in the search criteria.

A search of the NBN online mapping tool records one plant species listed within the Network Management Contract (NMC) within 2km of the scheme extents (within the last 10-years):

Invasive Non-native Species (INNS)

  • Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum).

The nearest record is located approx. 1.6km east of the scheme (recorded 2018).

A search of the Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) online mapping tool records no species as listed within the NMC throughout the scheme extents.

Habitat immediately bordering the trunk road tends to be of low intrinsic value because the existing road verge is subject to cyclic maintenance e.g., grass cutting, weed control, tree, and shrub cut-back etc. The roadside verges are comprised of a homogenous managed areas of semi-improved grassland alongside sections of broadleaved woodland, tree lines and scrub. Roadside vegetation generally offers low ecological habitat value due to its limited scale, fragmented nature and high potential for disturbance owing to cyclic landscape maintenance and the proximity of the trunk road (with its fast-flowing traffic). The presence of the trunk road also restricts continuity of, and connectivity between, habitats either side of the trunk road boundary.

Outwith the trunk road boundary, agricultural land surrounding the scheme forms a pattern of open and exposed fields containing both arable and pastoral land and areas of deciduous woodland south of the scheme. The result of this intensive agricultural land management is to restrict the occurrence of semi-natural and natural vegetation types. Most field boundaries are comprised of wooden fencing and vegetative features further delineating field boundaries e.g., shrub hedgerow, rough grassland, ruderal herb stands and scrub. Linear features at field boundaries have wildlife value, both as corridors in an intensively managed landscape, and as habitats for birds and small animals.

Geology and soils

The A1 within the scheme extents is not located within a Geological Conservation Review Site (GCRS) and there are no Local Geodiversity Sites (LGS) with connectivity to the scheme extents.

The National Soil Map of Scotland online mapping tool records that the generalised soil types beneath the scheme extents are Brown Soils and Mineral Gleys and the Major Soil Groups are Brown Soils and Gleys.

The British Geological Survey online mapping tool records that the superficial geology within the scheme extents is comprised of:

  • Till, Devensian (Diamicton).
  • Raised Tidal Flat Deposits, Late Devensian (Sand, Silt and Clay).

The bedrock geology within the scheme extents is recorded as:

  • Ballagan Formation (Sandstone, Siltstone and Dolomitic Limestone).

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

Factor has no constraints that are likely to be impacted by the proposed works and has therefore been scoped out of further environmental assessment.

Material assets and waste

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

  • TS2010 10mm site class 1/3.
  • AC20 dense binder 40/60.
  • AC32 dense base 40/60.
  • Tack/bond coat.
  • Paving grade bitumen to seal vertical faces.
  • Eurolite thermoplastic road markings.
  • Embedded road studs.

As the value of the scheme is greater than £350,000, a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is required for these works.

The 2947m scheme involves removal of the surface course and localised areas of base and binder. In total, approx. 3191.1 tonnes of bituminous material (European Waste Catalogue Code: 17 03 02) will be removed from site, none of which are classified as hazardous material containing coal tar.

Noise and vibration

Receptors – refer to ‘Population and Human Health’.

Works are not located within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) or Candidate Quiet Areas (CQA).

The night-time modelled noise level (Lngt) ranges between 60 and 65 decibels within the scheme extents (Scotland’s Noise), with levels dropping to between 40 and 45 decibels at the nearest noise sensitive receptor (NSR) (residential property).

The baseline noise and vibration in the scheme extents is primarily influenced by vehicles travelling along the A1 trunk road. Secondary sources most likely arise from day-to-day agricultural activities and from motor vehicles travelling along nearby roads.

Population and human health

Six residential properties and one farmstead are found within 300m of the scheme extents, the closest of which lies approx. 72m south of the scheme extents (residential property) and is fully screened from the scheme by deciduous woodland.

There are no non-motorised user (NMU) or community facilities with connectivity to the scheme extents.

Street lighting is not present within the scheme extents.

The A1, within the scheme extents, is a dual carriageway with the national speed limit applying throughout, The Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) flow is low (15,212 motor vehicles) (ID: 80904, 2023)) (Road Traffic Statistics).

Road drainage and the water environment

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) River Basin Management Plan online mapping tool records one classified surface waterbody within 300m of the scheme extents:

  • River Tyne (Birns Water confluence to Estuary) is a river in the River Tyne catchment of the Scotland river basin district (ID: 4000), lies approx. 220m north of the scheme (at its nearest point). The main stem is approximately 23.9km in length and classified as being in ‘Poor’ condition.

Three unclassified surface waterbodies and one well are located within 300m of the scheme extents:

  • Drain1 lies approx. 31m north of the scheme and is separated from the scheme by roadside tree shelterbelt.
  • Drain2 lies approx. 68m north of the scheme.
  • Drain3 lies approx. 102m north of the scheme.
  • Well1 lies approx. 25m north of the scheme and is separated from the scheme by roadside tree shelterbelt.

A search of the SEPA’s Flood Map online mapping tool records that two small sections of the A1 within the scheme extents are recorded as having a high likelihood of surface water flooding (i.e., each year these areas have a 10% chance of flooding).

A search of Scotland's Environment (SE) online mapping tool determined that the trunk road lies on the ‘Luggate’ groundwater, which has been classified as being in ‘Good’ condition.

The scheme extents are located within the ‘Edinburgh, East Lothian and Borders’ Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).

Climate

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 sets out the target and vision set by the Scottish Government for tackling and responding to climate change (Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009). The Act includes a target of reducing CO2 emissions by 80% before 2050 (from the baseline year 1990). The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019 amended the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to bring the target of reaching net-zero emissions in Scotland forward to 2045 (Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019).

The Scottish Government has since published its indicative Nationally Determined Contribution (iNDC) to set out how it will reach net-zero emissions by 2045, working to reduce emissions of all major greenhouse gases by at least 75% by 2030 (Scotland's contribution to the Paris Agreement: indicative Nationally Determined Contribution). By 2040, the Scottish Government is committed to reducing emissions by 90%, with the aim of reaching net-zero by 2045 at the latest.

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). 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 a legally binding target of net-zero by 2045.