Description of Local Environment
Air Quality
The scheme is located within a rural area of Dumfries and Galloway on the A75, surrounded by fields, grassland and woodland. There are no residential properties or other air quality receptors within 200m of the scheme.
Along the diversion route, which travels through Kirkcowan, there are approx. 30 residential properties. The following sensitive receptors are also located within 50m of the diversion route:
- Kirkcowan Primary School located along Willhouse Road approx. 30m north of the diversion route.
- Kirkcowan Parish Church located along the B733 approx. 40m south of the diversion route.
Baseline air quality is likely to be influenced by the traffic along the A75. In 2023, the Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) for all vehicles on the A75 where works are to be undertaken (manual count point: 10744 located approx. 3.2km east) was 4,565, with 620 of these being Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs). The closest manual count point to Kirkcowan is located approx. 1.3km southeast of the planned diversion route, at reference 811361. This shows that in 2023 the AADF of traffic along the B733 was 486 with 30 of these being HGVs.
Dumfries and Galloway Council have not declared any Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA).
There are no sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) within 1km of the scheme extents.
Cultural Heritage
A desk-based assessment has been undertaken using Pastmap. No designated cultural heritage features have been identified within 300m of the scheme and no non-designated assets have been identified within 200m. Therefore, Cultural Heritage has been scoped out for further assessment. In accordance with DMRB Guidance document LA 116: Cultural Heritage, no further assessment is required.
Landscape and Visual Effects
The scheme is located within a rural area of Dumfries and Galloway on the A75. The scheme is surrounded by fields, grassland and woodland and there are no receptors that will have a view of the works. The Barhoise Burn is within the scheme extents.
Scotland’s Environment Map does not highlight any ancient woodland or Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) within 500m of the scheme extents. There are also no National Scenic areas or Garden and Designed Landscapes within 500m of the scheme.
The Historic Land-Use Assessment (HLA) Map notes the land within the scheme extents is made up of Rectilinear Fields and Farms and Rough Grazing.
The Landscape Character Type (LCT) Map notes the scheme is within LCT 168 Drumlin Pasture in Moss and Moor Lowland. The Key characteristics of this landscape include:
- Prominent pasture drumlins, set in flatter moss and moor, bounded by hedges and drystone walls to form medium sized fields.
- Colour contrast between green drumlins and brown moss and moor.
- Scattered antiquities including standing stones and cairns.
- Relatively poor road network connecting isolated houses/farmsteads.
- A few small forests and policy landscapes.
- Intimate scale and complexity of drumlin landscape.
Biodiversity
A desktop study, undertaken using SiteLink, has highlighted that the scheme is located within River Bladnoch Special Area of Conservation (SAC) (8355). No Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) have been identified within 200m of the scheme.
According to the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas no protected species or Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) have been identified within 500m of the works.
A search of Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) online mapping tool has highlighted the presence of the target species rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium) and common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) within the scheme extents.
A Preliminary Ecological Walkover (PEW) has been undertaken by two competent ecologists on the 1st of May 2025.
Geology and Soils
SiteLink notes there are no Geological Conservation Review Sites or SSSIs designated for geological features within 200m of the scheme extent.
Scotland’s Soils Map notes that’s the soils within the scheme extents are made up of Dystrophic semi-confined peat with peaty rankers.
The Geology of Britian Viewer notes that the geological features within the scheme extents are made up of:
Bedrock Geology
- Gala Unit 1 - Wacke. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 443.8 and 440.8 million years ago during the Silurian period.
Superficial Deposits
- Peat - Peat. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 2.588 million years ago and the present during the Quaternary period.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Water Classification Map notes that the groundwater conditions in Galloway (ID: 150694) are considered to be in good condition.
A desktop study to determine potential sources of contamination has been undertaken and found that there are no landfill sites within 200m of the scheme extents.
Material Assets and Waste
|
Activity |
Material Required |
Origin/ Content |
|
Site Construction |
· Asphalt (to tie in topside) · Extra soil required will be topsoil to finish of verges. · Precast concrete headwalls and wingwalls. · Grout for GRP Liner · Rock rolls · Metal VRS · Concrete for VRS posts |
· Materials will be derived from recycled, secondary or re-used origin as far as practicable within the design specifications to reduce natural resource depletion and associated emissions. · Fill material and the rock rolls will be sourced from local quarries. Imported stone will be a general fill (Class 1A) |
|
Activity |
Waste Arising |
Disposal/ Regulation |
|
Site Construction |
· Unsuitable material from excavations (potentially including peat soils) · Masonry from old/existing parapets |
· All waste will be stored in secure containers and segregated into different waste streams. · All waste leaving the site will be removed from site by a licence waste carrier. All waste documentation will be provided when requested. · Some of the excavated material will be reused to landscape the embankments where suitable – this includes the peat soils. |
Noise and Vibration
The scheme is located within a rural area of Dumfries and Galloway on the A75. There is one residential property within 300m, located approximately 260m south. There are no other noise sensitive receptors within 300m of the scheme.
Along the diversion route, which travels through Kirkcowan, there are approx. 30 residential properties. The following sensitive receptors are also located within 50m of the diversion route:
- Kirkcowan Primary School located along Willhouse Road approx. 30m north of the version route.
- Kirkcowan Parish Church located along the B733 approx. 40m south of the diversion route.
Baseline noise is likely to be influenced by traffic along the A75. In 2023, the AADF for all vehicles on the A75 where works are to be undertaken (manual count point: 10744 located approx. 3.2km east) was 4,565, with 620 of these being HGVs. The closest manual count point to Kirkcowan is located approx. 1.3km southeast of the planned diversion route, at reference 811361. This shows that in 2023 the AADF of traffic along the B733 was 486 with 30 of these being HGVs.
According to Scotland Noise Map, the noise within the scheme extents ranges from 68.01 d to 56.24 dB LDAY during daytime hours. During nighttime hours the noise within the scheme extents ranges from 64.62 dB to 54.16 dB LEVG.
The scheme is not located within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA).
Population and Human Health
The scheme is located within a rural area of Dumfries and Galloway on the A75. The scheme is surrounded by fields, grassland and woodland. The current agricultural practices immediately surrounding the scheme appear to include livestock grazing. One residential property lies within 300 metres of the site, situated approximately 260 metres to the south. It is accessed via a minor road branching from the A75, though it falls outside the boundaries of the scheme. There are no other community facilities within 300m of the scheme. The closest village to the works that provides community facilities, including a church, primary school and a doctor’s surgery, is Kirkcowan which is located approx. 2km south of the works.
There are no core paths, National Cycle Network Routes or Bridleways within 300m of the scheme extents .
The scheme extents are not street lit and there are no bus stops or laybys within the scheme extents. Other land uses located within 300m of the works include agricultural fields, however, there are no access points to these within the scheme extents.
Road Drainage and the Water Environment
The works are located within the Barhoise Burn. This watercourse is not classified according to SEPA’s water classification hub. However, the Balhoise Burn is a tributary of the River Bladnoch which has a ‘good’ overall ecological potential.
According to SEPA Flood Maps, the scheme is located within an area with high likelihood of river flooding. This suggests that each year this area has a 10% chance of flooding.
The scheme is located within the Galloway (ID: 150694) groundwater catchment which is considered to be in good condition. The scheme is not within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).
Drainage within the scheme extents is unknown.
Climate
Carbon Goals
The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 sets out the target and vision set by the Scottish Government for tackling and responding to climate change (The 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 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)). 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.
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.
Policies and Plans
This Record of Determination (RoD) has been undertaken in accordance with Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (RSA EIA Regulations) along with Transport Scotland’s Environmental Impact Assessment Guidance (Guidance – Environmental Impact Assessments for road projects (transport.gov.scot)). Relevant guidance, policies and plans accompanied with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB)) LA 101 and LA 104 were used to form this assessment.