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 in the wider bandings to be within the ‘green zone’ (Low Index 1-3).

The scheme is located within the Dumfries and Galloway Council boundary which reports no active Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) within their administrative boundary. The nearest AQMA, “High Street, Musselburgh”, lies approximately 85.95km north of the scheme extents and has been declared for nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

There are no sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) for air pollutant releases within 10km of the scheme extents in the last 10 years.

Baseline air quality within the scheme extents is likely to be primarily influenced by traffic along the A7 carriageway. Secondary sources are most commonly derived from motor vehicles travelling along local network roads and day-to-day agricultural land management activities.

Cultural heritage

The PastMap and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) online mapping tools record one designated cultural heritage asset within 300m of the scheme extents. “Highmill Bridge (A7 Over Ewes Water)” (ID: LB9758) is a Category B Listed Building which lies within the scheme extents.

Of lesser concern, nine undesignated cultural heritage assets (UCHA) are located within 300m of the scheme extents. Of these, four are located entirely or partially within the scheme extents:

  • “Highmill Bridge (A7 Over Ewes Water)” Historic Environment Record (HER) site (ID: MDG20753) is located within the scheme extents.
  • “Highmill Bridge / Ewes Water” HER site (ID: MDG7899) is located within the scheme extents.
  • “Highmill Bridge” National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) (ID: 67599) site is located within the scheme extents.
  • “Whiteshiels Mill” HER site (ID: MDG27048) partially overlaps with the southern side of the scheme extents.

The next closest UCHA is located approximately 140m northwest of the scheme extents.

Construction of the A7 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 has therefore been assessed to be low.

Landscape and visual effects

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

The Landscape Character Type (LCT) within the scheme extents is categorised as “Upland Glens – Dumfries & Galloway” (LCT – 166) which has the following key characteristics:

  • Deep u-shaped (and partially v-shaped) valleys with steep sides and narrow flat valley floors.
  • Enclosed and often narrow, contained by steep sides which rise to form irregular ridgelines
  • Features of traditional upland farming, with isolated farmsteads surrounded by trees, small to medium sized fields and enclosures with drystone dykes, fanks, stells and shelterbelts.
  • Rough grassland and moor above improved pastures.
  • Medium scale conifer forests (or parts of larger forests) on the glen sides.
  • Single track road access.

The Historic Land-use Assessment (HLA) classifies the land-use within 300m of the scheme extents as:

  • Rectilinear Fields and Farms.
  • Managed Woodland.
  • Unenclosed Improved Pasture.
  • Recreation Area.
  • Industrial or Commercial Area.
  • Rough Grazing.

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

  • “Class 4.2” - Land capable of producing a narrow range of crops, primarily on grassland with short arable breaks of forage crops.

There are three areas of ancient woodland recorded on the Ancient Woodland Inventory within 300m of the scheme extents. Their details are:

  • A 21.91ha area (ID: 50 – 40,790) of ancient (of semi-natural origin) (ANSO) woodland which has been continuously wooded since at least 1860. This area of woodland borders the A7 with the scheme extents at the south side.
  • A 6.35ha area (ID: 44 – 40,792) of ANSO1860 woodland. This area is located approximately 40m southwest of the scheme extents at its closest point.
  • A 9.15ha area (ID: 50 – 40,785) of ANSO1750 woodland. This area is located approximately 125m east of the scheme extents.

The Native Woodland Survey of Scotland records three areas of native woodland within 300m of the scheme extents. The closest of these is a 1.68ha area of mature lowland mixed deciduous woodland which is located adjacent to the west of the A7 carriageway at the south side of the scheme extents. The next closest area of native woodland is located approximately 80m east of the scheme.

Additionally, there are four areas of “Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site” (PAWS) within 300m of the scheme extents, two of which lie adjacent to the scheme extents.

There are no individual trees or areas of woodland covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) 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 Langholm - Newcastleton Hills Special Protection Area (SPA) is located approximately 1.44km southeast of the scheme extents at its closest point. There are no other European designated sites lie within 2km of the scheme extents, i.e., SPAs, Special Area of Conservation (SACs), or Ramsar Sites. However, the Solway Firth SPA and SAC, and Upper Solway Flats and Marshes Ramsar Site have hydrological connectivity with the scheme via Ewes Water, which passes below the A7 within the scheme extents, and flows into the River Esk, which drains into the Solway Firth. Additionally, the scheme lies within the buffer zone of qualifying features of the Solway Firth SPA and Upper Solway Flats and Marshes Ramsar Site.

The Langholm – Newcastleton Hills SPA is underpinned by the Langholm - Newcastleton Hills Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The Solway Firth SPA is underpinned by the Upper Solway Flats and Marshes SSSI.

The NBN atlas also holds records of numerous bird species within 2km over a ten-year period. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) (WCA), all wild birds and their active nests are protected.

A search of the NBN online mapping tool records no invasive or injurious plant species as listed within the Network Management Contract (NMC) within 2km of the scheme extents (within the last 10-years).

A search of the Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) online mapping tool records one instance of the invasive native perennial rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium) within the scheme extents, and no instances of injurious weeds or invasive non-native species (INNS).

The habitat immediately bordering the A7 North of Langholm consists primarily of agricultural/pastural fields, and Ewes Water and its associated riparian area, with rough grazing and heathland present in the wider area. While there is high availability of roadside vegetation such as neighbouring woodland, the surrounding habitat is assessed to be of reduced ecological value, due to the high likelihood of disturbances from low-volume, fast-flowing traffic and the A7 carriageway which also limits the connectivity and continuity for species between their potential habitats on either side of the road.

An ecological constraints survey (ECS) was conducted by BEAR Scotland’s Environmental Team in April 2023 on a stretch of the A7 carriageway. A further survey was conducted on the 24th of April 2024. An updated ECS was conducted on the 27th of July 2026 by BEAR Scotland’s Environmental Team. The survey area included the River Esk and its banks to the south of Factory/Highmill Bridge, with an approximate 200m buffer.

Due to narrow verges, the areas immediately adjacent to the carriageway could not be surveyed, however, numerous invasive non-native species including giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica), and Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum) have been identified to the south of the village of Langholm, approximately 1.5km south of the scheme, and may be present within the area. While not directly adjacent to the carriageway, large stand of Japanese knotweed and several instances of giant hogweed were identified on the banks of the River Esk within the survey area.

Geology and soils

There are no geological SSSIs or Geological Conservation Review Sites within 300m of the scheme extents (SiteLink). Additionally, there are no Local Geodiversity Sites (LGS) with connectivity to the scheme extents. 

The major soil groups and generalised soil types within the scheme extents are classified as “Brown soils” and “Alluvial soils” (Scotlands’s Soils). 

Bedrock geology within the scheme extents is classified as “Riccarton Group-Wacke and mudstone” and “Southern Scotland Dinantian Plugs And Vents Suite-Agglomerate”. There are superficial deposits of:

  • Mouldy Hills Gravel Formation-Gravel, sand, silt and clay.
  • Langholm Till Formation-Diamicton.
  • Alluvium-Sand, silt and clay.

(Geology Viewer).

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

Given the restriction of the works to the A7 carriageway boundary, and the lack of any excavation works, 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

Materials used will consist of:

  • TS2010 10mm Site Class 1.
  • AC20 Dense Binder 40/60.
  • Tack/Bond coat.
  • Thermoplastic Road Markings.
  • Embedded Road Studs.

The value of the scheme is greater than £350,000 and as such, a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is required.

The 1347m scheme involves the removal of surface and binder course. In total, approximately 2300 tonnes of bituminous material will be removed from site, approximately 262 tonnes of which is classified as hazardous material containing coal tar. The coal tar will be removed from site and stored prior to be reused within a separate M8 resurfacing scheme.

Noise and vibration

There are commercial and residential properties within 300m of the scheme extents. For further details see “Population and Human Health”.

The works do not fall within a candidate quiet area (CQA).

The nighttime noise levels (LNGT) modelled within the scheme extents range between 50 and 60 decibels (dB), remaining at similar levels at the nearest noise sensitive receptor (NSR) (residential) (Noise Map Viewer).

Baseline noise and vibration in the study area is mainly influenced by vehicles traveling along the A7 trunk road. Secondary sources are derived from vehicles travelling along nearby local network roads and day-to-day agricultural activities.

Population and human health

There are four residential and several commercial properties within 300m of the scheme extents. The closest property is a residential property located adjacent to the A7 carriageway within the scheme extents. It receives no screening from the scheme extents.

There are no core paths within 300m of the scheme extents (Dumfries and Galloway Core Paths).

A footpath is present adjacent to the northbound side of the carriageway at the southernmost end of the scheme.

There are two laybys within the scheme extents, one on the northbound side and one on the southbound side, both located towards the north of the scheme.

Several local/farm access routes are present within the scheme. In addition, access to one residential property, two commercial and one community facility are found within the scheme extents.

There are no bus stops, street lighting, or other community assets within the scheme extents. However, two bus stops are located immediately south of the scheme extents.

The scheme extents are located on the A7 carriageway, which is a single carriageway with the national speed limit applying throughout. The Average Daily Traffic (ADT) flow is low (2,090 motor vehicles (ID: ATC09001, 2026 data)) (Transport Scotland).

Road drainage and the water environment

There is one SEPA classified waterbody within 300m of the scheme extents. “Ewes Water” (ID: 10681) is a river in the River Esk catchment area which passes below the A7 carriageway within the scheme extents. It has a main stem approximately 19.1km in length and was given an overall status of “Good” by SEPA in 2024.

There are numerous unclassified surface waterbodies located within 300m of the scheme extents. Of these, four are located within 30m of the scheme extents:

  • “Near Whitshiels Cleuch” is a burn which passes below the A7 carriageway and drains into Ewes Water at the southernmost end of the scheme extents.
  • “Drain 1” is a drainage waterbody which passes below the A7 carriageway within the scheme extents and drains into Ewes Water near the north of the scheme.
  • “Drain 2” is a drainage waterbody located approximately 20m east of the scheme extents.
  • “Drain 3” is a drainage waterbody located approximately 30m west of the scheme extents.

A search of the SEPA Flood Map online mapping tool shows that there are several areas of increased flood risk within or adjacent to the scheme extents. These areas range between a low (0.1%) and high (10%) likelihood of flooding each year.

The scheme extents lie within the “Eskdale Sand and Gravel” (ID: 150760) and “East Dumfrieshire” (ID: 150690) groundwater bodies, both of which were classified as “Good” by SEPA in 2024.

A search of the Scotland's Environment (SE) determined that the trunk road, within the scheme extents, does not lie within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).

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).