Description of local environment
Air quality
The scheme is situated in a rural area of South Ayrshire, where the surrounding landscape primarily comprises agricultural land interspersed with small woodland patches.
There are approx. 18 residential properties within 200m of Phase 1 works, with the nearest property, South Lodge, located approx. 1m from the A77 on the northern side of the carriageway.
Approximately 15 residential properties lie within 200m of the Phase 2 works, with the closest being 8 New Smyrton located approx. 10m east of the works along the A77 carriageway. Glenapp Castle Hotel is located approx. 200m south of the works.
The primary factor affecting baseline air quality is traffic along the A77 road network, with agricultural activities contributing as a secondary source.
The Average Annual Daily Flow (AADF) in 2024 for the main A77 carriageway just south of the scheme extents (site no. 752), accounted for 3,406 vehicles, with 695 of these being HGVs.
South Ayrshire Council has not yet declared any Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA). No real-time air quality monitoring stations are present within 200m of the scheme extents.
The Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) has not identified any polluting facilities within 1km of the scheme extents.
Cultural heritage
For the area of Phase 1 works, Scotland’s Environment mapping resource and Pastmap has not identified any designated culturally significant assets within 300m. However, the following non-designated culturally significant assets within 100m:
- Glenapp Estate Forestry, South Ayrshire (Ref- 6272) Historic Environment Record (HER) is located adjacent to the A77 carriageway on the east side of the carriageway south of Smyrton.
- Stranraer, Ballantrae Military Road (Ref- 42152) HER, is located beneath the A77 carriageway within the scheme extents.
- Glenapp Castle, South Lodge (Ref- 42961) HER, is located approx. 1m from the A77 located on the northern side of the carriageway.
For the Phase 2 works area, Scotland’s Environment mapping resource and Pastmap has identified the following designated culturally significant asset within 300m:
- Glenapp Castle (Ref- LB856) Category B listed building, Located approx. 200m south of the works.
Additionally, the following It has also identified the following non-designated culturally significant assets within 100m:
- Glenapp Castle, Smyrton, New Smyrton, Houses (Ref- 8854) HER, Houses within the village of Smyrton.
- Stranraer, Ballantrae Military Road (Ref- 42152) HER, is located beneath the A77 carriageway within the scheme extents.
- Glenapp Estate Forestry, South Ayrshire (Ref- 6272) HER, located directly west of the A77 carriageway north of Smyrton.
Landscape and visual effects
Landscape
Phase 1 and 2 works are situated in a rural area of South Ayrshire, where the surrounding landscape primarily comprises, agricultural land interspersed with small woodland patches.
Scotland’s Landscape Character Type Map lists the landscape character type present within Phase 1 and 2 scheme extents to be ‘Coastal Farmland and Policies’.
Scotland’s Historic Land-Use Map lists the land surrounding the scheme extents as rectilinear farms and fields.
The Glenapp Garden and designed landscape is located directly west of the A77 carriageway (Scotland’s Environment Mapping Resource).
No trees under a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) have been identified within 300m of the scheme extents.
Scotland Ancient Woodland Inventory has identified three areas of ancient woodland within 500m of Phase 1 works which are:
- Auchencrosh Wood (ID-37008) which is an area of long-established plantation woodland located directly west of the A77 carriageway.
- An unnamed woodland with ID-37177, which is an area of long-established plantation woodland is located directly north east of the works.
- Willies Wood (ID-37107) which is an area of long-established plantation woodland located approx. 160m south east of the works.
Visual
South Ayrshire Council has identified core path ID- SA63, which crosses over the A77 carriageway within the Phase 1 scheme extents at Smyrton, and will have visibility of the works. No Core Paths have been identified within Phase 2 scheme extents.
Transient visual receptors include road users (motorists, public transport users) travelling along the A77, who will experience brief and intermittent views of the scheme.
Biodiversity
The area surrounding the A77 carriageway within the scheme extents is characterised by scattered residential properties, intermittent patches of dense vegetation comprising mature trees and scrub, and extensive areas of farmland.
NatureScot’s Sitelink has identified the Glen App and Galloway Moors Special Protection Area (SPA), located approx. 50m southeast of Phase 1 and 780m southeast of Phase 2 at its closest point.
For Phase 1 and Phase 2 works NBN Atlas resource has not identified the presence of any Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) or Transport Scotland Target Species within 500m of the scheme extents. The Amey Environment SW INNS Map resource has not recorded the presence of any INNS or Transport Scotland Target Species within 500m of the works
A competent senior ecologist has reviewed the scheme and the surrounding habitat using desktop resources, and, a site visit was subsequently scoped out. This was concluded due to the transient nature of the works and their confinement within the carriageway boundary.
Geology and soils
Phase 1 and 2 scheme extents are not located within 200m of any Geological Conservation Review sites (GCRs), or SSSIs designated for their geological significance (NatureScot’s Sitelink).
The National Soil Map of Scotland lists the soil present within both phases as Brown Soils and Non-calcareous Gleys, with surrounding land classified as grade ‘4.2’ under the Land Classification for Agriculture.
The underlying bedrock geology is the Downan Point Lava Formation - Basalt, lava-pillowed. Igneous bedrock formed between 465.5 and 449 million years ago during the Ordovician period.
Overlaying this are sedimentary superficial deposits of Raised Marine Beach Deposits (Late Devensian), comprising sand, silt and clay, which date back to the Quaternary period, approximately 116,000 – 11,800 years ago.
Material assets and waste
Materials
Materials required are detailed within Table 3 below.
Table 3: Key Material Required for Activities
|
Activity |
Materials Required |
Sources |
|
Construction |
· TS2010 surface course · AC20 bituminous binder · AC32 bituminous base · Fuels and oils · Road paint · Road studs |
· 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. · 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. · Some material may be derived from primary resources, such as the road paint. |
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
There is a possibility that coal tar may be found during investigation stages. Anticipated wastes from the proposed works are listed in Table 4 below.
Table 4: Key Waste Produced by Activities
|
Activity |
Waste Produced |
Disposal |
|
Construction |
· Asphalt planings · Road paint · Road studs · Possibility of coal tar |
· All waste will be disposed of in accordance with the Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (EASR). · However, where planings meet SEPA’s criteria, they will be fully recycled. · Any coal tar road planings will be treated as special waste. |
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
Baseline noise and vibration levels are likely to be influenced by vehicle traffic from the A77 carriageway and surrounding residential and agricultural activities. The AADF in 2024 for the main A77 carriageway just south of the scheme extents (site no. 752), accounted for 3,406 vehicles, with 695 of these being HGVs.
There are approx. 18 residential properties within 300m of Phase 1 works, with the nearest property, South Lodge, located approx. 1m from the A77 on the northern side of the carriageway.
Approximately 15 residential properties lie within 300m of the Phase 2 works, with the closest being 8, New Smyrton located approx. 10m east of the works along the A77 carriageway. Glenapp Castle Hotel is located approx. 200m south of the works.
Scotland’s Noise Map has indicated modelled day-evening-night noise levels (Lden) in the areas surrounding the carriageway to be around 55-60 dB within 70m. Night-time noise levels (Lnight) surrounding the carriageway show levels of 50-65 dB within 70m.
The scheme is not located within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) as defined within the Transportation Noise Action Plan.
Population and human health
The A77 forms a rural single - carriageway section of the Glasgow‑to‑Portpatrick trunk route, accommodating local, tourist and HGV traffic to and from Ayr, Girvan and the Cairnryan ferry ports. The route passes through hilly, sparsely populated countryside, with Smyrton Hill rising nearby, and is accessed by minor roads from the Stinchar Valley.
There are approx. 18 residential properties within 300m of Phase 1 works, with the nearest property, South Lodge, located approx. 1m from the A77 on the northern side of the carriageway. These properties have screening from the carriageway in the form of hedgerows and thin strips of trees.
Approximately 15 residential properties lie within 300m of the Phase 2 works, with the closest being 8, New Smyrton located approx. 10m east of the works along the A77 carriageway. Glenapp Castle Hotel is located approx. 200m south of the works. The closest property number 8 is not screened from the carriageway, however the other 14 properties have screening from the carriageway in the form of hedgerows, thin strips of trees and woodland.
Single access points to fields and private properties are present within both phases.
South Ayrshire Council has identified core path ID- SA63, which crosses over the A77 carriageway within Phase 1 scheme extents at Smyrton, and will have visibility of the works. There are no Core Paths identified within Phase 2 scheme extents a view of the scheme extents.
There are no National Cycles Network Routes within 500m of the scheme extents at either Phase of works.
Road drainage and the water environment
SEPA’s Water Classification Hub has not identified any classified watercourses within 500m of Phase 1 or 2 works.
Smyrton Burn, a non-statutory watercourse flows beneath the A77 carriageway within Phase 1 scheme extents at NGR- NX 10092 80231.
Kilphin Burn, a non-statutory watercourse flows beneath the A77 carriageway within Phase 2 scheme extents at NGR- NX 10072 80758.
A small pond is located approx. 30m north of South Lodge.
SEPA’s Flood Map has identified a number of small areas at high risk (10% chance each year) of surface water flooding throughout Phase 1 and Phase 2 scheme extents.
Road drainage along the section of the A77 consists of top entry gullies and filter stones.
The works are not located within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).
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 GHGs 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, and Transport Scotland are committed to reducing their emissions by 75% by 2030 and to 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 has set carbon goals for the SW NMC as a whole to be net-zero carbon by 2032.
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.