Description of local environment

Air quality

The scheme is located along the A76, between Jock's Loaning and Glasgow Road, north of Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway. Approximately half the scheme is within a relatively urban setting. The immediate surroundings comprise of a grass verge, shrubs, and a petrol station to the northbound side, and a pathway with a narrow grass verge on the southbound side.

The scheme then transitions into a more rural setting, with pedestrian footways present on both sides of the carriageway. These pathways are bordered by a narrow band of deciduous trees, shrubs, and grasses. The wider area is charactered predominantly by agricultural land to the north and west, with residential properties located to the south.

There are approximately 200 residential properties within 200m of the scheme extents, with the closes property situated directly adjacent to the A76 at NGR NX 95653 78159. Newbridge Country Park (holiday park), is located adjacent to the north of the scheme. No other sensitive air quality receptors are present within 200m of the scheme extents.

Baseline air quality in the area is primarily influenced by traffic using the A76, with additional contributions from agricultural activities. The nearest manual count point (78559), located along the A76, 140m south of the scheme, recorded an Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) of 13,067 in 2024, with 813 of these being Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

Dumfries and Galloway Council has not declared any Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs), indicating that concentrations of key pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter (NO₂, PM₁₀, PM₂.₅) are currently within the limits set by the Scottish air quality objectives.

There are no sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) and no air quality monitoring stations are located within 1km of the scheme.

Cultural heritage

A desk-based assessment was undertaken using Pastmap. A study area extending 300m from the scheme extents was applied to identify designated cultural heritage assets. No designated assets were identified within this buffer; therefore, there are no Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas, World Heritage Sites, Scheduled Monuments, or Battlefields within close proximity to the scheme.

A study area of 200m was applied for the identification of non-designated cultural heritage assets. Please see Table 1 below.

Table 1. Non-Designated Cultural Heritage Assets within 200m

Table 1. Non-Designated Cultural Heritage Assets within 200m
Name	Reference Number	Description	Distance from Scheme
Jardington – Fort	65619 MDG6080	National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) Historic Environment Record (HER)	100m northeast of the carriageway.
Newbridge - Henge	83694 MDG4841	NRHE HER	95m southwest of the carriageway.
Midnunnery - Farmstead	MDG28847	HER	160m southwest of the carriageway.
New Bridge	MDG28848	HER	60m northeast of the carriageway.
Dumfries, 1-19 Criffel Avenue	159319 MDG13519	NRHE HER	40m east of the carriageway.

Landscape and visual effects

The scheme then transitions into a more rural setting, with pedestrian footways present on both sides of the carriageway. These pathways are bordered by a narrow band of deciduous trees, shrubs, and grasses. The wider area is characterised predominantly by agricultural land to the north and west, with residential properties located to the south.

There is only one Core Path (ID: 94) within 300m of the scheme, located 275m north of the scheme. There are no National Cycle Network Routes or Bridleways within 300m of the scheme location.

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

Scotland’s Historic Land Use Assessment Map has highlighted that the land within the scheme along the A76, or directly adjacent to the carriageway, has historically been used as: ‘Urban Area’, ‘Industrial or Commercial Area’, ‘Recreation Area’, ‘Rectilinear Fields and Farms’, and ‘Holdings’.

The Scottish Landscape Character Type (LCT) Assessment Map identifies the landscape within the scheme extents is Lower Dale – Dumfries & Galloway (LCT 162). This LCT is characterised by wide, flat sections of major valleys with pastures and arable fields. Wide meandering river channels are common here, with isolated settlements and suburban expansion clear throughout the LCT.

Biodiversity

NatureScot’s Sitelink resource indicates that there are no European designated nature conservation sites i.e. Special Protection Areas (SPA), Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), or Ramsar Sites located within 2km or sharing connectivity with the scheme extents. Sitelink has also not identified any national designations, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) within 1km of the scheme extents.

The NBN Atlas has no records of Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS). However, there are two records of Transport Scotland Target Species within proximity to the scheme. Rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium) and creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense) are recorded within 500m of the scheme (both approximately 210m northwest of the scheme). A review of Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) online mapping tool has not identified any INNS along the verges of the A76 within the scheme extents. The target species rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium) and common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) are present within the verges.

As the scheme includes verge works and has the potential to require vegetation clearance, a senior ecologist has determined the need for a site visit. This site survey was subsequently undertaken, and an ecological report produced in April 2026.

Geology and soils

NatureScot’s SiteLink confirms that there are no Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS), geological SSSIs or Local Geodiversity Sites (LGS) within 500m of scheme extents. The nearest GCRS is Locharbriggs North Quarry (ID: 9782) located 4.3km northeast of the scheme.

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

Superficial deposits:

Kilblane Sand and Gravel Formation-Sand and gravel. These sedimentary deposits are glacigenic in origin and were formed in the Quaternary period.

Bedrock geology:

Locharbriggs Sandstone Formation-Sandstone and angular pebble-grade conglomerate. These sedimentary rocks are fluvial, lacustrine, and marine in origin and were formed during the Permian period.
Doweel Breccia Formation-Conglomerate and [subequal/subordinate] sandstone, interbedded. These sedimentary rocks are fluvial, lacustrine, and marine in origin and were formed during the Permian period.

Scotland’s Soil Map indicates that the soil within the scheme consists of ‘Brown Earths’. Furthermore, the national scale land capability for agriculture can be classed as ‘3.1’, capable of producing consistently high yields of a narrow range of crops and/ or moderate yields of a wider range. This indicates that the ground surrounding the scheme cannot be classed as prime agricultural land.

All works are contained to the engineered layers of the existing carriageway with no excavation works planned. The scheme is also not within prime agricultural land, and not within proximity to any geological sites. Consequently, there is limited potential for disturbance to geology and soils. As such, geology and soils has been scoped out of requiring further assessment in line with DMRB Guidance document LA 109: Geology and Soils.

Material assets and waste

Please see below for the materials required for the scheme and their sources, and for the expected waste produced by the scheme and its disposal.

Key materials required:

TS2010 Surface Course;
AC20 Bituminous Binder;
AC32 Bituminous Base;
Vehicle fuel;
Road marking materials;
Road studs;
Oil; and

Potential additional materials:

Filter stones;
Traffic sign faces;
Traffic sign posts; and

A proportion of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) is used in asphalt production. Typical RAP values for base and binder are 10% -15% with up to 10% in surface course.

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.

Key Waste Produced by the Scheme:

Coal-tar;
Road planings (inert bituminous materials); and
Road Markings and Studs.

Potential additional waste:

Filter stones;
Traffic sign faces;
Traffic sign posts; and

Following on-site coring investigations and testing, coal-tar was identified within the surfacing of the carriageway within the scheme extent.

This scheme is not in excess of £350K and therefore does not require a Site Waste Management Plant (SWMP).

Noise and vibration

For baseline data on the scheme’s immediate surroundings and wider context, please refer to ‘Air Quality’.

There are approximately 450 properties within 300m of the scheme extents, the nearest located directly adjacent to the A76 at NGR NX 95653 78159. Newbridge Country Park is a holiday park located adjacent to the north of the scheme, and the Lighthouse Church Dumfries is located 220m southwest of the carriageway. There are no other sensitive noise and vibration receptors located within 300m of the scheme extents.

Baseline noise and vibration is primarily influenced by traffic using the A76, with additional contributions from agricultural activities. The nearest manual count point (78559), located along the A76, 140m south of the scheme, recorded an AADF of 13,067 in 2024, with 813 of these being HGVs.

The Transportation Noise Action Plan (TNAP) 2024 to 2028 and the Agglomerations Noise Action Plan for Scotland confirms that the scheme does not lie within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) or one of Scotland’s five agglomerations (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Falkirk, and Glasgow).

According to Scotland Noise Map, existing noise levels within the scheme extents range from approximately 68dB to 73dB (Lday) during daytime hours and from 60dB to 65dB (Lnight) at night. At the nearest identified receptor, the property located adjacent to the carriageway, baseline noise levels are recorded at approximately 67dB during the day and 59dB during the night. These values provide a representative indication of current acoustic environment in the area.

Population and human health

A study area of 300m was applied, reflecting the like-for-like nature of the works and their containment to the A76 carriageway boundary.

For baseline data on the scheme’s immediate surroundings and wider context, please refer to ‘Air Quality’.

There are approximately 450 properties located within 300m of the scheme extents, with the closest property situated directly adjacent to the A76 at NGR NX 95653 78159. Newbridge Country Park, a holiday park, lies immediately to the north of the scheme, while the Lighthouse Church, Dumfries is located approximately 220m southwest of the carriageway. No other sensitive receptors were identified within 300m of the scheme extents.

There is only one Core Path (ID: 94) within 300m of the scheme, located 275m north of the scheme. There are no National Cycle Network Routes or Bridleways within 300m of the scheme location.

Street lighting is present along the full length of the scheme extents. Furthermore, there are seven laybys located throughout the scheme, five of which also function as bus stops. Direct vehicular access from the A76 is provided to three properties within the scheme extents, located at National Grid References (NGRs) NX 95825 77992, NX 95650 78156, and NX 95412 78426.

Road drainage and the water environment

According to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPAs) Water Classification Hub, the closest watercourse is Cluden Water/Cairn Water (ID: 10604) which runs adjacent to the scheme, 280m north at its closest points. This river has ‘Good’ ecological health according to the Water Framework Directive (WFD). In addition, there are three unnamed watercourses within 500m, the closest being located approximately 235m northeast of the carriageway. There are no further undesignated or unnamed watercourses within 500m of the works.

According to SEPA Flood Maps, Cluden Water/Cairn Water has a ‘High’ likelihood (10% annually) of flooding. However, this does not extend into the scheme extents. The river has a ‘Low’ likelihood (0.1% annual) of flooding adjacent to the works, but this does not extent onto the carriageway itself. There is also a small section of the scheme (approximately 150m) that has a ‘Low’ likelihood of surface water flooding.

Surface water runoff along the A76, within the scheme extents, is managed via filter drains and filter stones located on either side of the carriageway. Groundwater within the scheme consists of Lower Nithsdale Sand and Gravel (ID: 150810) which has an overall ‘Good Ecological Health’ according to the WFD.

The works fall within the Lower Nithsdale Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ), indicating that the concentration of nitrates in the water is at risk of exceeding levels set by the European Commission’s Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC).

The works do not fall within a surface Drinking Water Protected Area (DWPA). This highlights how according to the Water Environment (Drinking Water Protected Areas) (Scotland) Order 2005, the surface water within the scheme is not intended to be consumed and is consequently not under tight controls regarding polluting activities. Importantly however, drinking water may still be abstracted from the ground under the scheme.

Climate

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 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 South West Network Management Contract (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.

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