Description of local environment

Air Quality

The scheme is located in an urban area along the A75 and A76 at Glasgow Road roundabout, Dumfries, in Dumfries and Galloway (See Figure 1: Scheme Location Map). Local air quality is likely to be predominantly influenced by vehicular traffic along the A76 and A75 with additional contributions from community and residential activities. Manual count point 80290, located approximately 150m east along the A75 at NX 96604 77319, shows that in 2025, the Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) for all motor vehicles was 24,757 with 1,936 (8%) of these being Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

There are over 100 residential properties located within 200m of the scheme extents, the closest one being located approximately 32m north along Lincluden Road. Other sensitive air quality receptors include the following:

Voyage Care located approximately 196m northeast of the works area;
Scottish Ambulance Service Dumfries Ambulance Station located 200m southwest;
St Teresea’s Primary School 63m west, and;
The Bridge Dumfries Education Centre located 120m southeast of the works.

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 have not declared any Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs).

There are no areas 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.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) UK Ambient Air Quality Map presents predicted background air pollutant concentrations across the UK. According to the 2024 dataset, background annual mean Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) concentrations within the proposed works area are below 4.1 µg/m³. This value is within National air quality pollution limits (40 µg/m³).

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 300m of the scheme extents.

Historic Environment Records (HERs) and National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) provide local and national level information on Scotland’s historic environment. Only one non-designated feature is located within 200m, this being Dumfries, Margaret Walk, Lincluden Parish Church National Record of Historic Environment (NRHE) (ID: 352631) which is a 21^st Century Church located 100m northeast of the works.

Landscape and Visual Effects

Landscape

The scheme is located within an urban area within Dumfries in Dumfries and Galloway. Vegetation and shrubbery line the immediate scheme extents with a pocket of mixed woodland located adjacent to the works area. Where woodlands are absent, residential properties are located with a grass verge lining the carriageway. The scheme extents run under Cuckoo Footpath Bridge at NGR NX 96345 77191 and NX 96328 77250. The wider area is surrounded by residential properties, buildings and recreational open spaces. There are no historical or cultural landscape features within the scheme extents.

According to Scotland’s Environment Web, there are no Gardens and Designed Landscapes, Ancient Woodlands, National Scenic Areas or any Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) located within 500m of the scheme extents or within sight of the proposed works.

A search on Scotland’s Landscape Character Type (LCT) Map has recorded that the LCT within the scheme extents can be classed as ‘162 - Lower Dale - Dumfries & Galloway’ characterised by the following features for example:

Wide, flat or gently undulating section of the major valleys.
Improved pastures and arable fields of medium to large size.
Hedgerow field boundaries (beech and hawthorn) with occasional walls.
Broadleaf shelterbelts.
Open character, medium to long views determined by tree lines and shelterbelts.
Wide meandering river channels.
Network of communication lines: minor and major roads and railway lines.
Many settlements including main towns at river bridging points, isolated developments and suburban expansion.

Scotland’s Historic Land Use Assessment (HLA) Map, notes that the land surrounding all site locations has previously been used as ‘Urban Areas’. Villages, towns and cities cover extensive areas of Scotland, and include housing, schools, shops, hotels and churches, as well as prisons, hospitals, universities and various other municipal buildings.

The area to the south has also been categorised as ‘Industrial or Commercial Area’. Districts with sprawling buildings, storage areas, extensive carparks, yards and access roads can be extensive.

Visual

Due to the lack of vegetation and natural topographic screening in some areas within the scheme extents, multiple residential properties and receptors will experience views of the works, particularly those along Glasgow Road and Criffel Road.

Users of Cuckoo Footbridge which runs over the work area will have views of the construction activities. Users of the footways along the scheme extents will also have views of the works.

Transient visual receptors include road users (motorists, public transport users) travelling along the A75 and A76.

Biodiversity

Protected Areas

A desktop study using NatureScot’s online research tool, Sitelink, has not identified any European designated sites that have connectivity or lie within 2km of the scheme extents. This resource 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.

Watercourses

Please see road drainage and the water environment section for details.

Field Survey

Due to the intrusive nature and as the construction activities involving verge works, including vegetation removal, extending beyond the carriageway boundary, a competent Amey ecologist determined that a pre-construction field survey was required. The survey was undertaken on 4^th June 2026 and identified the following ecological constraints:

The invasive non-native species (INNS) cotoneaster (Cotoneaster sp.), cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii), snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) and Japanese rose (Rosa rugosa) were present at various locations within the proposed works area.
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. However, no active nests were identified at the time of the survey.

Invasive Plants

A desktop study using the NBN Atlas has identified the following target species and Invasive Non-Native Species (NBN) within 500m of the proposed works:

Rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium);
Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense);
Common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris);
Broad leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius);
Himalayan cotoneaster (Cotoneaster simonsii);
Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera);
Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), and;
Japanese Rose (Rosa rugosa).

Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) has highlighted that common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) can be found along the verge of the A75 within the scheme extents.

Geology and Soils

Geology

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

Bedrock geology underlying the proposed scheme extents consists of Doweel Breccia Formation-Conglomerate and [subequal/subordinate] sandstone, interbedded. These sedimentary rocks are fluvial, lacustrine and marine in origin. They are detrital, deposited in lagoons or shallow seas; where a hot, arid climate also leads to the precipitation of beds of evaporites.

Superficial deposits within the works area can be classified as Kilblane Sand and Gravel Formation-Sand, gravel and boulders. 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

There is no soil data available within the scheme extents according to Scotland’s Soils Map, this is likely due to the scheme location’s urbanised, built-up nature.

Land Use and Contamination

The national land capability for agriculture within the scheme extents can be categorised a ‘888’ urban.

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

Material Assets and Waste

Materials

Materials required for construction activities consists of the following:

Concrete;
Asphalt;
Type 1 unbound subbase material;
General / selected granular fill;
Steel traffic signposts;
Steel or aluminium traffic sign plates with plastic coating;
Thermoplastic road marking material;
TS2010 surface course;
AC20 bituminous binder;
AC32 bituminous base;
Fuel;
Ductile iron grates, covers and frames;
Plastic pipes for drainage and ducting;
Plastic gully pots and inspection chambers;
Pedestrian guardrail;
Traffic signal heads;
Soakaway material, and;
Steel lighting column.

Due to the nature of the works the origin is most likely virgin materials provided by manufacturer. However, metal components, such as sign materials, may have a percentage of recycled content. Recycled content is dependent on supplier and design.

TS2010 Surface Course allows a wider array of aggregate sources to be considered when compared to typical Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA). As a result, the use of TS2010 will reduce the usage of imported aggregates and increase the use of a wider range of sustainable aggregate sources.

Concrete may be mixed on site. However, it is recommended that pre-mixed concrete is delivered to reduce the risk of pollution. A concrete mix using cement replacement products is proposed.

Wastes

Waste material produced by construction activities will consist of the following:

Concrete;
PCC kerb units;
Excavated acceptable material;
Excavated hard material;
Road planings, and;
Vegetation/trees.

The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations (EASR) 2018 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.

Waste plant matter may be treated at the place where it is produced to make it easier to transport or to produce mulch for use at the place of production. Furthermore, during maintenance work brash may be cut, chipped or shredded and left on the ground at the place where it is produced. Treatment must occur at the place where the waste plant matter or brash was produced.

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 over 100 residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents, the closest one being located approximately 32m north along Lincluden Road. Other sensitive noise and vibration receptors include the following:

Voyage Care located approximately 196m northeast of the works area;
Scottish Ambulance Service Dumfries Ambulance Station located 200m southwest;
St Teresea’s Primary School located approximately 63m west.;
Lincluden primary school approximately 300m north;
Lincluden after school group approximately 300m northeast;
The Bridge Dumfries Education Centre and associated playing fields is located 120m south of the scheme extents.

Local noise and vibration levels are likely to be predominantly influenced by vehicular traffic along the A75 and A76 with additional contributions from community and residential activities. Manual count point 80290, located approximately 150m east along the A75 at NX 96604 77319, shows that in 2025, the AADF for all motor vehicles was 24,757 with 1,936 (8%) of these being HGVs.

According to Scotland’s Noise Map, modelled day-time noise levels (L_day) at the nearest receptors have been recorded to range between 63-66dB, whereas within the scheme extents, noise level ranges from 69-76dB. Noise levels during nighttime hours (L_ngt) within the surrounding area ranges from 55-60dB whereas within the scheme extents noise has been recorded to range between 67-70dB.

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.

The scheme extents do not fall within a Candidate Noise Management Areas (CNMA) as highlighted by Transport Scotland’s Transportation Noise Action Plan (TNAP) (2024-2028).

Population and Human Health

As works will be within a localised area, a reduced buffer of 300m has be applied when assessing Population and Human Health impacts and mitigation requirements.

Community Land and Assets

The scheme is located within a rural section of the A75 and A76 carriageway at Glasgow Road Roundabout through Dumfries in Dumfries and Galloway. Glasgow Road Roundabout connects multiple communities within Dumfries such as Summerville, Lochside, Lincluden and Nithside. Dumfries is made up of residential properties and community assets such as educational facilities, places of worship and recreational areas. Beyond Dumfries, the A75 and A76 carriageway connects smaller towns such as Lockerbie and Castle Douglas.

There are two bus stops partially located within the works area. The scheme extents are situated along several bus routes that provide connections to Dumfries town centre and surrounding smaller communities. The two bus stop laybys are located north of the scheme extents at NGRs NX 96173 77367 and NX 96164 77351.

Streetlights border both sides of the A75 and A76 carriageway.

Agriculture, Private Property and Housing

There are over 100 residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents, the closest one being located approximately 32m north along Lincluden Road. Whilst there are no direct access/egress points to residential properties located within the scheme extents, the Glasgow Road Roundabout does provide links to and from residential and community/recreational facilities.

The closest agricultural field is located approximately 340m southeast of the works.

Development Land and Businesses

Key community assets include the following:

Voyage Care located approximately 196m northeast of the works area;
Scottish Ambulance Service Dumfries Ambulance Station located 200m southwest;
St Teresea’s Primary School located approximately 63m west;
Lincluden primary school approximately 300m north;
Lincluden after school group approximately 300m northeast;
The Bridge Dumfries Education Centre and associated playing fields is located 120m south of the scheme extents.

Walkers, Cyclists and Horse-Riders (WCH)

Core Path 118 is located approximately 100m south of the scheme extents. There are no Public Rights of Way (PRoW) located within the scheme extents. However, multiple footways are located adjacent to and within the scheme extents. The scheme extents run under Cuckoo Footpath Bridge at NGR NX 96345 77191 and NX 96328 77250.

National Cycle Network Route 7 is located approximately 101m south of the scheme extents. This route is in sections between Sunderland and Inverness, forming parts of the famous Sea to Sea (C2C) cycle route.

There are no bridleways located within 300m of the works area.

Road Drainage and the Water Environment

Surface Water

SEPA’s Water Classification Hub has not highlighted any classified watercourses within 500m of the scheme extents or any unclassified watercourses. There are also no ponds located within 250m of the works area.

Drainage along the scheme extents consists of open-top gullies and filter stones.

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

Flood Risk

SEPA’s Flood Risk Map has highlighted that there are some areas within the scheme extents that are susceptible to a ‘Medium’ to ‘High’ (0.5%-10% probability per annum) likelihood of surface water flooding.

Groundwater

Groundwater within the scheme extents consists of Lower Nithsdale Sand and Gravel groundwater, (ID: 150810), which has been recorded to have an overall ‘Good’ quality in 2024.

Works fall within the Lower Nithsdale Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ). NVZs area areas designated as being at risk from agricultural nitrate pollution. Areas such as the Lower Nithsdale NVZ either result or would likely result in a concentration equal or exceeding 50mg/l of nitrates in either surface or groundwater as a result of agriculture.

Climate

Carbon Coals

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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