Description of local environment

Air Quality

This resurfacing scheme is being undertaken along the A701 carriageway, north of St Ann’s in Dumfries and Galloway (See Figure 1 – Scheme Location Map). Local air quality is predominantly influenced by vehicular travel along the A701; however, secondary sources may include activities from surrounding agricultural fields. Manual count point 788, located along the A701 at NY 07400 96500, estimates that the Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) for all motor vehicles in 2025 was 4,718 with 601 (13%) of these being Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

There are approximately 10 residential properties located within 200m of the scheme extents. The closest (The Dale and Ross Cottage) being 16m east of the works area. There are no other non-residential air quality receptors located within 200m of the works area.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) UK Ambient Air Quality Map indicates that background nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) annual mean concentrations are less than 10µg/m³ within the scheme extents sitting at 1.79µg/m³. Particulate Matter of a Diameter less than 10 microns (PM₁₀) background annual mean concentrations are 6.18µg/m³ in the works area whilst Particulate Matter of a diameter less than 2.5 microns (PM_2.5) background annual mean concentrations are 4.14µg/m³. The levels present are all well below the national air quality objectives of 40 µg/m³ for NO₂, 40 µg/m³ for PM₁₀ and 20 µg/m³ for PM_2.5.

Each Local Authority in the UK is responsible for reviewing and assessing air quality in their respective areas to ensure that the National air quality objectives are met. Where areas are failing to meet the National objectives, Local Authorities are required to declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and put in place an Air Quality Management Plan in order to ensure that the National objectives are met. Dumfries and Galloway Council has not declared any AQMAs.

There are no sites identified on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) within 1km of the works area. Additionally, there are no Air Quality Monitoring Stations located within 200m of the scheme extents.

Cultural Heritage

A desk-based assessment has been undertaken using PastMap online mapping tool. The study area covered a 300m radius for designated cultural heritage assets and a 200m radius for non-designated cultural heritage assets. Where an asset has been listed more than once, its highest statutory designation has been recorded.

No statutory cultural heritage features are located within the scheme footprint; however, the following can be found within the study area:

St Ann's Bridge (A701 Over Kinnel Water) Category B Listed Building (ID: LB9885) which is a single wide segmental arch over Kinnel Water located 10m west at NY 06850 93345.
Raehills, Gatepiers And Screen Walls Category B Listed Building (ID: LB9901) which is a pair cylindrical castellated red ashlar gatepiers with crenelated screen walls which is located adjacent to the carriageway at NY 06889 93333.
St Ann's Village, Cottage Category B Listed Building (ID: LB9886) which is a late 18th century, single storey piend-roofed cottage located 30m east at NY 07019 93417.

Historic Environment Records (HERs) and National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) provide local and national level information on Scotland’s historic environment. There are approximately 25 non-designated sites within 200m, those located adjacent to the carriageway consists of the following:

Raehills, Gatepiers And Screen Walls NRHE (ID: 232273) which recorded a Gate Pier (Period Unassigned).
St Ann's, General NRHE (ID: 215785) which has records of a village (Period Unassigned).
A Milestone is located adjacent to NGR NY 07153 94790.

Landscape and Visual Effects

Landscape

The scheme is located within a predominantly rural setting along the A701 between St Ann’s and Beattock in Dumfries and Galloway. The carriageway is bordered by intermittently distributed mixed woodland and gently undulating terrain. Woodland cover becomes more extensive towards the scheme end point. In areas where woodland is absent, agricultural land lies adjacent to the carriageway. The surrounding landscape is characterised by similar rural land uses. The scheme runs through St Ann’s which comprises primarily of farmland and residential properties.

Raehills Garden and Designed Landscape (ID: GDL00322) is located within the scheme extents. Raehills lies to the east of the Forest of Ae at St Ann's originally laid out in the 18^th century.

There are approximately 20 Ancient Woodlands location within 500m of the scheme extents, those adjacent to the works consist of the following:

Hazelbank Plantation Ancient Long-Established (of plantation origin) Woodland (Wood ID: 40276);
Unnamed Ancient Long-Established (of plantation origin) Woodland (Wood ID: 40278);
Unnamed Ancient (of semi-natural origin) Woodlan (Wood ID: 40268);
Floshlands Wood Ancient Long-Established (of plantation origin) Woodland (Wood ID: 40266), and;
Unnamed Ancient (of semi-natural origin) Woodland (Wood ID: 40256).

There are no other landscape designations, including National Scenic Areas (NSAs) or Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) located within 500m of within sight of the works.

Scotland’s Historic Land Use Assessment (HLA) Map contains no recorded data on past land use within the scheme extents, however, modern land use within the works area has been classed as ‘Designed Landscapes’ and ‘Rectilinear Fields and Farms’.

Visual

Due to sparsity in vegetation cover, multiple residential properties are expected to have views of the works. Those predicted to be impacted the greatest include Smithy House, The Dale and Ross Cottage.

There are no footways located along the scheme extents. The Annandale Way Core Path (ID: 439) crosses over the scheme extents at NY 07193 95235. Users of this path may have sight of the works.

Transient visual receptors include road users (motorists, public transport users) travelling along the A701.

Biodiversity

Protected Areas

There are no European designated sites located within 2km of the scheme extents according to NatureScot’s online research tool Sitelink. The works do have hydrological connectivity through Kinnel Burn to the Solway Firth Special Protection Area (SPA) (ID: 10487), Upper Solway Flats and Marshes Ramsar (ID: 8458) and the Solway Firth Special Area of Conservation (SAC) (ID: 8377). Due to the significant distance these sites are to the works, approximately 30km, likely significant effects are not predicted and formal assessment is not required.

A desktop study using NatureScot’s online research tool, Sitelink, has not identified the presence of national designations (such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Local Nature Reserves or National Nature Reserves) within 200m of the scheme extents.

Invasive Plants

The NBN Atlas has identified the following Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) and Transport Scotland’s target species within 500m of the works area:

Rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium);
Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense);
Broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius);
Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum), and;
Common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris).

Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) has recorded historically that the following Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) and target species can be found along the verge:

Rosebay willowherb;
Broad-leaved dock, and;

Field Survey

As works will be undertaken within the carriageway verges, Amey ecologists have deemed a site visit necessary. This survey identified the following constraints:

The woodland and dense scrub recorded within and surrounding the proposed works area offers suitable foraging, commuting and nesting habitat for a variety of bird species.
The following Invasive Non Native Species were recorded along the verges of the scheme extents:
- Rhododendron;
- Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster sp.), and;
- Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana).

Geology and Soils

Geology

Bedrock geology underlying the scheme extents consists of Carghidown Formation-Metasandstone and metamudstone. These rocks were sedimentary in origin, possibly graded sediments or turbiditic flows in a deep-marine environment but have subsequently undergone metamorphism.

Superficial deposits within the works area can be classified as Langholm Till Formation-Diamicton. These sedimentary deposits are glacigenic in origin. They are detrital, created by the action of ice and meltwater, they can form a wide range of deposits and geomorphologies associated with glacial and inter-glacial periods during the Quaternary.

Soils

Scotland’s Soil Map was not active at the time of writing, however, as verge works will not be undertaken to significant depths, any impact of soils is predicted to be minor.

Land Use and Contamination

There are no Geological Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or any Geological Conservation Review Sites within 200m of the scheme extents or any that have connectivity to the works area as highlighted by NatureScot’s Sitelink online research tool.

There are no operational landfill sites located within 1km of the scheme extents.

Material Assets and Waste

Materials

Resurfacing will use Transport Scotland’s TS2010 hot-mix asphalt (HMA) specification with AC binder and base layers. Warm-mix asphalt (WMA) is not proposed due to limitations within the local supply chain and limited access to the specialist plant required for its production and installation.

While WMA provides energy and emissions benefits, HMA provides long-term durability, extending the design life of the carriageway and reducing the frequency of future resurfacing interventions.

Other material required will consist of the following:

Road studs;
Verge materials including filter stones and bollards;
Vehicle fuel and oil, and;
Road marking material.

Materials will be obtained from recycled, secondary, or re-used origin as far as practicable within the design specifications to reduce natural resource depletion and associated emissions. For example, the binder and base courses used for resurfacing will contain a percentage of recycled material.

Some material such as the road paint, may be derived from primary resources,.

Wastes

Wastes are anticipated to be carriageway planings which will primarily be recycled at a licenced facility, thereby reducing the amount sent to landfill and promoting circular economy practices.

Coring investigations have identified the presence of coal tar which is classified as special waste. All special waste will be transport by suitable licenced contractor and be accompanied by a correctly completed special waste consignment note (SWCN) providing information about the waste, the producer and the person the waste is being handed to; the SWCN will be kept for three years, the Site Responsible Manager is responsible for ensuring these are retained onsite.

Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations (EASR) classes waste asphalt (uncontaminated) as a Low-Risk Waste Activity (LRWA) under ‘LRWA 3 - Treating asphalt road planings in a milling machine’. This means that uncontaminated road planings arising from the works do not require authorisation and will be fully recycled in accordance with SEPA’s guidance on asphalt road planings.

Furthermore, the recycling of Asphalt Waste Containing Coal Tar (AWCCT) will be undertaken in line with SEPA’s position statement on AWCCT (document ref WAS-PS-06). This includes ex-situ recycling which will always be considered as an option, particularly when there is AWCCT present.

A Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) will be prepared prior to the works which will detail how resource use and waste arising from the works will be managed throughout the scheme. This is required due to the scheme exceeding £350,000 in value and will help control and reduce the amount of waste produced, resulting in less landfilled waste.

Noise and Vibration

There are approximately 10 residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents. The closest (The Dale and Ross Cottage) being 16m east of the works area. Minimal screening is present between the carriageway and the cottage with a single tree and some small shrubs being present on the verge. There are no other non-residential noise and vibration receptors located within 300m of the works area.

Local noise and vibration levels are predominantly influenced by vehicular travel along the A701; however, secondary sources may include activities from surrounding agricultural fields. Manual count point 788, located along the A701 at NY 07400 96500, estimates that the AADF for all motor vehicles in 2025 was 4,718 with 601 (13%) of these being HGVs.

According to Scotland’s Noise Map, modelled day-time noise levels (L_day) at the nearest receptors (The Dale and Ross Cottage) have been recorded to range between 61-66dB, whereas within the scheme extents, noise level ranges from 65-68dB. Noise levels during nighttime hours (L_ngt) within the surrounding area ranges from 54-56dB whereas within the scheme extents noise has been recorded to range between 60-63dB.

The works do not fall within any noise agglomerations (e.g. Glasgow, Falkirk, Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh). An agglomeration refers to an urbanised area where the population more than 100,000 people and a population density equal to or greater than 500 people per km². These areas are shown on a map or plan prepared and published by the Scottish Ministers displaying noise management areas and quiet areas.

The Dumfries and Galloway Council area hosts no declared Candidate Noise Management Areas (CNMAs) as highlighted by Transport Scotland’s Transportation Noise Action Plan (TNAP) (2024-2028).

Population and Human Health

Due to the short-term, transient nature of the scheme, a reduced buffer of 300m has be applied when assessing Population and Human Health baseline, impacts and mitigation requirements.

Community Land and Assets

The scheme is situated within a rural setting between St Ann’s and Beattock in Dumfries and Galloway. The A701 functions as a key transport route within the area, providing connectivity between local settlements, including Moffat and Abington, and larger urban centres such as Dumfries. Land use within St Ann’s and Beattock is primarily residential and agricultural in nature. A variety of community facilities, including schools, places of worship, and recreational amenities, are located within Dumfries.

There are two bus stops located within the scheme extents - Stop ID: 34232323 located along the northbound (NB) side and Stop ID: 34238532 located along the southbound (SB) side. These buses serve routes to and from Dumfries from Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Five laybys are located along both the northbound and southbound side of the carriageway.

Due to the rural location, there are no streetlights located along the carriageway.

Agriculture, Private Property and Housing

There are approximately 10 residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents. The closest (The Dale and Ross Cottage) being 16m east of the works area. Multiple access/egress points are located within the scheme extents, some of which are the only point of access to properties.

Agricultural fields are surround the scheme extents with the closest farm being The Bothy located approximately 900m south-east of the works.

Development Land and Businesses

There are two businesses located within 300m, these being Annandale Estates Estate Agents and Annandale Timber Products both of which are located adjacent to the A701 carriageway. The primary access/points are also located along the carriageway within the works area.

Walkers, Cyclists and Horse-Riders (WCH)

The Annandale Way Core Path (ID: 439) crosses over the scheme extents at NY 07193 95235. There are no other core paths or footways located within proximity to the works area.

There are no National Cycle Network Routes or any bridleways within 300m of the scheme extents.

Road Drainage and the Water Environment

Surface Water

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has identified that Kinnel Water u/s of Water of Ae (ID: 10653) is located 20m west of the works. This watercourse has been recorded to have an overall ‘Good’ quality in 2024 according to the Water Framework Directive (WFD).

There are multiple unclassified watercourses located within 500m, those named include:

Floshlands Burn located approximately 165m west of the works, and;
Kinnelhall Burn which flows through the scheme extents at NY 07120 94188.

There are multiple other unnamed tributaries within 500m.

Works are not located within a Scottish Drinking Water Protected Area (Surface).

Drainage along the A701 carriageway within the scheme extents consists of gullies, filter drains and catchpits.

Flood Risk

According to the Scottish Environment Protection Area (SEPA)’s Flood Risk Map, there are localised areas within the scheme extents that are predicted to experience a ‘Low’ to ‘High’ (0.1%-10% probability per annum) likelihood of surface water flooding.

Groundwater

Groundwater within the scheme extents consists of East Dumfriesshire groundwater (ID: 150690) which has been recorded to have an overall ‘Good’ quality in 2024.

Works do not fall within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).

Climate

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 Scottish Carbon Budgets Amendment Regulations 2025 sets out the statutory framework for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Scotland. The prior annual and interim targets have been replaced by five-year carbon budgets, which sets limits on the amount of GHGs that can be emitted in Scotland.

The proposed carbon budgets are aligned with advice from the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) and calculated in accordance with the 2009 Act. The 2025 Regulations define the baseline years for emissions reductions as 1990 for greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, and 1995 for others such as hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulphur hexafluoride (as set out in Section 11 of the Act). The budgets are as follows:

2026 - 2030: Average emissions to be 50% lower than baseline.
2031 - 2035: Average emissions to be 60% lower than baseline.
2036 - 2040: Average emissions to be 80% lower than baseline
2041 - 2045: Average emissions to be 94% lower than baseline

These budgets are legally binding and will be supported by a new Climate Change Plan, which will outline the specific policies and actions required to meet the targets.

Transport Scotland remains committed to reducing carbon across Scotland’s transport network, this commitment is being enacted through the Mission Zero for Transport. Transport is the largest contributor to harmful climate emissions in Scotland, representing for 37% nationwide, and Transport Scotland are committed to reducing their emissions by 50% by 2030. To support this, Transport Scotland’s Fourth Carbon Management Plan is committed to reaching Net Zero emissions across corporate activities by 2027. This will contribute to achieving a legally binding target of net-zero by 2045.

Amey’s Company Wide Carbon Goal is to achieve Scope 1 and 2 net-zero carbon emissions, with a minimum of 80% absolute reduction on our emissions by 2035. Amey is aiming to be fully net-zero, including Scope 3 emissions, by 2040.

Amey are working towards a contractual commitment to have carbon neutral depots on the SW NMC network by 2028. Amey have set carbon goals for the SW NMC contract as a whole to be net-zero carbon by 2032.

Monitoring, Management and Opportunities

To support our journey towards carbon neutral and zero waste we include potential opportunities for enhancement utilising circular economy principals within assessment of material assets.

Amey (working on behalf of Transport Scotland) undertake carbon monitoring. Emissions from our activities are recorded using Transport Scotland’s Carbon Management System.

Further information identifying how Amey will obtain the above Carbon Goals can be viewed within the Carbon Management and Sustainability Plan Roadmap to net-zero: STRNMC – South West.

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