Description of local environment

Air Quality

The scheme is located in a rural area surrounded by agricultural fields along the A76 carriageway in Auldgirth, Dumfries and Galloway. There are eight residential properties located within 200m of the works, the closest one being located approx. 30m west from the A76 carriageway. There are no further air quality receptors located within 200m of the works.

Dumfries and Galloway Council have not declared any Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) within the scheme extents.

Baseline air quality is mainly influenced by vehicles travelling along the A76 carriageway. In 2024 the Average Annual Daily Flow (AADF) for all motor vehicles on the A76, approx. 2km north from the scheme extents (Manual Count point 80349) was 5,610 with 578 of these being Heavy Good Vehicles (HGVs).

According to the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) there are no registered sites for air pollutant releases located within 1km of the works. There are also no air quality monitoring sites located within 200m of the works.

Cultural Heritage

A desk-based assessment was undertaken using PastMap. A study area of 300m was used for designated cultural heritage assets, however no assets were identified. An area of 200m was used for non-designated cultural heritage assets and the following have been identified:

  • Rhoneston Bridge (Ref: 65807) & (MDG6265) National Record of Historical Environment (NRHE) and Historical Environment Record (HER), located Within the scheme extents
  • Friars Carse (Ref: MDG12866) HER, located within the scheme extents
  • Allanton, Dunscore Road, Gate Piers (Ref: 65802) & (MDG6260), located 6m west from the scheme extents.
  • Carse Loch / Friar's Carse (Ref: MDG11899) HER located 40m west from the scheme extents.

Landscape and Visual Effects

The scheme is located along the A76 within an area predominantly characterised by agricultural land use with some residential properties situated adjacent to the carriageway. These residential properties will have a view of the works as vegetation in sparse along this stretch of the carriageway in these areas.

A desktop study using Scotland’s Environment Map has highlighted that the scheme is not situated with a National Park (NP), National Scenic Area (NSA), Conservation Area, or Garden & Designed Landscapes. It has however highlighted that there are several unnamed ancient woodlands located within 500m of the scheme, the closest one is unnamed and located directly adjacent to the east of the scheme. No Tree Preservation Order (TPO) have been identified within 500m of the works.

The Scottish Landscape Character Assessment map has identified the land character type as the Middle Dale. The Landscape Character Type is found above the Lower Dale – Dumfries & Galloway landscapes, in the interior of the county. They are generally located between the Upland Fringe – Dumfries & Galloway character types in Dumfriesshire. The Middle Dales – Dumfries & Galloway occur in Mid Nithsdale, Mid Annandale and Mid Eskdale.

The Historic Land Use Assessment (HLA) Map highlights that the landscape surrounding the scheme consists of Rectilinear Fields and Farms.

Biodiversity

The following watercourses were found within or directly adjacent to the proposed works area:

  • An unnamed drain is present directly adjacent to the proposed works area.
  • Glenmidge Burn runs directly beneath the proposed works area at NGR: NX 91360 85768.
  • Carse Loch is present directly adjacent to the proposed works area.

These waterbodies are hydrologically connected to the River Nith.

A desktop study using NatureScot’s Sitelink resource identified no European designated sites within 2 km of the scheme extents. However, the proposed works are hydrologically connected to the Upper Solway Flats and Marshes Ramsar site (Site Code: 8458), Solway Firth SAC (Site Code: 8377), and Solway Firth SPA (Site Code: 10487), located approximately 20 km south of the scheme via the River Nith catchment.

Given this hydrological connectivity, a Stage 1 Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) was required prior to construction to assess the potential for Likely Significant Effects (LSE) on these designated sites. The assessment has concluded:

  • The proposed works are unlikely to disturb the qualifying amphibian and bird species which are isolated to the Solway Firth. Some bird species may use the surrounding farmland for foraging. However, the farmland habitat covers an extensive area and provides many foraging opportunities elsewhere.
  • Potential negative changes in noise and vibration levels, water quality or air quality would be temporary and alleviated by standard best practice as part of the works. With these measures in place, the likelihood of mobilised surface water pollution or air pollution impacting on the water quality of the surrounding watercourses are negligible.
  • There is no requirement for land take within the European Sites as a result of the scheme, as all works will be confined to the existing carriageway boundary. No LSE identified.

The proposed works are temporary, localised in nature, and confined to the existing A76 carriageway boundary. As such, no direct impacts on the European designated sites or their qualifying features are anticipated.

No nationally designated sites, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or Local Nature Reserves, were identified by Sitelink within 1km of the scheme extents.

The NBN Atlas desk study identified records of Invasive Non‑Native Species (INNS) within 500m of the scheme extents along the A76 corridor. These include:

  • Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera); and
  • Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum).

In addition, a search of Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) online mapping tool identified the presence of target species along the A76 verge, including rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium), and common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris), occurring intermittently within the road boundary.

An ecological field survey was undertaken along the A76 on 1st April 2026.

Geology and Soils

SiteLink notes there are no Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS), or geological SSSIs or Local Geodiversity Sites (LGS) within 500m of scheme extents.

The British Geology Viewer notes the soil geology within the scheme extents consists of the following:

Superficial deposits

  • 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 vgeomorphologies associated with glacial and inter-glacial periods during the Quaternary.

Bedrock geology

  • Gala Unit 7-Wacke. These sedimentary rocks are marine in origin. They are detrital and comprise coarse- to fine-grained slurries of debris from the continental shelf flowing into a deep-sea environment, forming distinctively graded beds.

Scotland’s Soil Map has highlighted that the soil located within the scheme extents consists of Brown earths with mineral alluvial soils with peaty alluvial soils.

Material Assets and Waste

Warm-mix asphalt (WMA) will be used for the resurfacing works. Where practical, all materials will comply with Transport Scotland’s amendment to the Specification for Highway Works, Clause 908TS Warm Mix Asphalt, which sets out performance requirements for WMA mixtures. WMA requires less heat, reducing energy use, making it more environmentally friendly in comparison to hot mix asphalt. 

Other material required will consist of the following:

  • Road surfacing (aggregate and binder);
  • TS2010 surface course;
  • AC20 bituminous binder;
  • AC32 bituminous base;
  • Bitumen;
  • Road paint and studs;
  • Lubricant;
  • Vehicle fuel;
  • Oil;
  • Replacement bollards;
  • Traffic signs; and,

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. 

Wastes 

Wastes are anticipated to be carriageway planings whichwill primarily be recycled at a licenced facility, thereby reducing the amount sent to landfill and promoting circular economy practices. Coring investigations have concluded the presence of coal tar within the scheme extents. All special waste will be transport by suitable licenced contractor and will be accompanied by 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 not be prepared prior to the works due to the scheme value being less than £350,000.

Further wastes produced will include:

  • Vegetation from siding out;
  • Road paint
  • Old road studs
  • Redundant bollards, signs, and barrier components

Noise and Vibration

The scheme is located in a rural area surrounded by agricultural fields along the A76 in Auldgirth, Dumfries and Galloway. There are approx. 20 residential properties located within 300m of the works, the closest one being located approx. 30m west from the A76 carriageway. There are no further non-residential noise sensitive receptors located within 300m of the works.

Baseline noise is mainly influenced by vehicles travelling along the A76 carriageway. In 2024 the AADF for all motor vehicles on the A76, approx. 2km north from the scheme extents (Manual Count point 80349) was 5,610 with 578 of these being HGVs. The volume and composition of this traffic particularly the presence of HGVs are key contributors to baseline ambient noise levels within the scheme extents.

According to the Transportation Noise Action Plan (TNAP) 2019-2023 and 2024-2028 the scheme extents are not located within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) suggesting that the area is not currently prioritised for strategic noise mitigation.

According to Scotland Noise Map, existing noise levels within the scheme extents range from approximately 58dB to 71 dB (Lday) during daytime hours and from 51 dB to 62 dB (Lnight) at night. At the nearest identified receptor, baseline noise is recorded at around 57 dB during the day and 49 dB during the night, providing a representative indication of current acoustic conditions in the area.

Population and Human Health

A 300m study area was considered appropriate due to the transient, low-risk, like-for-like nature of the works. The scheme is located in a rural area surrounded by agricultural fields along the A76 in Auldgirth, Dumfries and Galloway. There are approx. 20 residential properties located within 300m of the works, the closest one being located approx. 30m west from the A76 carriageway. There are no further community facilities or business of note located within 300m of the works.

According to Dumfries and Galloway core path plan, there are no core paths located within 300m of the scheme extents. There are no footpaths located along the scheme extents and no National Cycle routes or bridleways located within 300m of the scheme.

There are no bus stops located along this section of the A76. Due to the rural nature of the area, there is also no street lighting within the scheme extents, however there is one large layby located towards the start of the scheme extents. Adjacent to the scheme, the closest land use is agricultural, with several field access points situated within the works area. In addition, access points to residential properties are located throughout the scheme extents.

Road Drainage and the Water Environment

According to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)’s water classification Hub, the River Nith (Dumfries - Sanquhar) (ID: 10610) lies approximately 70 m east of the scheme extents at its closest point. This watercourse is currently classified as having moderate ecological potential.

Glenmidge Burn, a non‑classified watercourse, crosses directly through the scheme extents at NGR NX 91363 85763.

SEPA’s Flood Maps indicate that there is a ‘Medium’ likelihood of river flooding along the scheme extents, meaning the area has an estimated 0.5% annual probability of flooding each year. At Glenmidge Burn specifically, the flood risk is categorised as ‘High’, corresponding to an annual probability of flooding of 10%.

The groundwater within the scheme extents comprises of Lower Nithsdale Sand and Gravel groundwater (ID: 150810). This has a ‘Good’ overall ecological status. This is not listed as drinking water protected area. The scheme is located within the Lower Nithsdale Nitrate Vulnerable Zone as defined by the Scottish Government.

The drainage along the A76 within the scheme extents comprise of filter stone.

Climate

Carbon Goals

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, as amended by the 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 57% lower than baseline.
  • 2031 - 2035: Average emissions to be 69% 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.