Description of local environment

Air quality

There are no Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) which have been declared by the Highland Council within 300m of the scheme (Air Quality Management Areas).

There are no air quality monitoring sites located within 10km of the scheme (Scottish Air Quality).

There is one site registered on the Scottish Pollution Release Inventory (SPRI) within 10km of the scheme (Scottish Pollution Release Inventory): ‘Carbon Fibers, Muir of Ord Industrial Estate’, lies approximately 7.7km southwest from the scheme.

Baseline air quality for this scheme is primarily influenced by traffic along the A835 trunk road. Secondary releases are likely delivered by residential and agricultural activities within the wider area.

Cultural heritage

According to PastMap there is one Historic Environment Record (HER) (also listed on the National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE)): ‘Conon Bridge, A9’, approximately 50m west of the scheme at its closest extent.

There are no other Cultural Heritage features such as Listed Buildings, Scheduled Monuments, Garden & Designed Landscapes, Conservation Areas, Battlefields or World Heritage Sites listed within 300m of the scheme.

The works are confined to the trunk road boundary. As such, construction of the A835 is likely to have removed any archaeological remains that may have been present within the area and as such ‘cultural heritage’ is scoped out and is not discussed further within this Record of Determination (RoD).

Landscape and visual effects

The site does not fall within a National Park (NP) or a National Scenic Area (NSA) (SiteLink).

The scheme is located on a semi-rural stretch of the A835, approximately 1km northeast of the settlement of Conon Bridge. Land use within 300m of the scheme extent is dominated by rectilinear fields and farms, managed woodlands, holdings, rough grazings, and motorway and major roads (HLAMap). The A835 trunk road and River Conon are the dominant landscape features.

Landscape Character Type for the scheme is listed as ‘Farmed River Plains’ (LCT 342) which has the following key characteristics:

  • Broad expanse of mainly flat, connected river valley flood plains, with central meandering rivers.
  • Contrast of the flat, open plain and the adjacent surrounding concave slopes rising to steep hill and mountain edges to the north, west and south.
  • Meandering and mainly natural course of rivers and associated wetlands and salt marshes at lower reaches.
  • Woodland and tree cover of roadside and field-side trees lines, shelterbelts and small plantations interspersed with large scale fields.
  • Relatively sparse settlement, mainly of estate farms and cottages which avoid wetter areas, with occasional and relatively contained larger settlements on low plains as well as elevated sandy gravel deposits.
  • Important prehistoric ceremonial monuments consisting of standing stones and henges.

The land capability for agriculture surrounding the trunk road is classified as 3.2 (‘Land capable of average production though high yields of barley, oats and grass can be obtained. Grass leys are common.) (Scotland's Soils).

The A835 trunk road, including the A893, connects Tore with Ullapool. It commences at (but excludes) the A9 Tore Roundabout leading generally north-westwards for a distance of 80 kilometres to (but excludes) its junction with the ferry terminal at Ullapool. The A835 within the scheme extents is a single carriageway bridge over the River Conon.

Biodiversity

The scheme spans the Conon Islands Special Area of Conservation (SAC) (NatureScot ID: 8230).

The scheme lies approximately 550m southwest of the Cromarty Firth Special Protection Area (SPA) (8488) and Ramsar site (8418).

The A835 Conon Bridge spans the Lower River Conon Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) (1105), which overlaps Conon Islands SAC at the scheme extents.

The Cromarty Firth SSSI lies 1.3km downstream of the scheme at its closest point (467).

Additionally, the Inner Moray Firth SPA (8515) and Inner Moray Firth Ramsar site (8430) are located 7.5km southeast of the scheme.

Due to the proximity and hydrological connectivity of the works to the above designated sites, a Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) / Appropriate Assessment (AA) has been produced. Refer to the relevant assessment section below for details.

No other locally or nationally designated sites for biodiversity features are located within 300m of the scheme (SiteLink).

Numerous bird species were recorded on the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas (NBN Atlas) within 2km of the scheme during the last ten-year period. Only records with attributions CC-BY, OGL and CC0 (open use) were included in the search criteria. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), all wild birds and their active nests are protected.

NBN Atlas also holds the following records of invasive non-native species (INNS) (as denoted by *), invasive native weeds or injurious plant species (as listed in the northwest Network Management Contract (NMC)) under the same search criteria:

  • Broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius)
  • Common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris)
  • Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense)
  • Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)*
  • Rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium)
  • Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare).

Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) holds two records of INNS (as denoted by ‘*’) and injurious plants within 300m of the scheme:

  • American skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus)*
  • Common ragwort

Habitat surrounding the A835 carriageway at the scheme extents is dominated by semi-natural broadleaved woodlands, agricultural land/arable fields and residential areas. The Inner Cromarty Firth is spanned by the A835 at the scheme extents and is an area of floodplain, supporting a range of habitats including wet woodland, fens, brackish marsh and saltmarsh. The Inner Cromarty Firth at the scheme extents is influenced by the tides.

Two areas of woodland listed on the Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) lie within 300m of the scheme. The closest, listed as ‘other’ (on Roy map) (2.59 ha) lies beneath the A835 Conon Bridge scheme at its northern extent.

There are no Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) present within 300m of the scheme (Highland Tree Preservation Orders).

An ecological constraints survey (ECS) was undertaken by the BEAR Scotland NW Environmental Team on 04 September 2025.

Geology and soils

Bedrock geology within the scheme is recorded as ‘Braemore Mudstone Formation’ - Mudstone, sandstone and limestone. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 407.6 and 393.3 million years ago during the Devonian period (BGS Geology Viewer).

Superficial deposits within the scheme consist of alluvium - clay, silt, sand and gravel, and; raised marine beach deposits of Holocene age - sand and gravel (BGS Geology Viewer).

Soils within the scheme are recorded as non-calcareous gleys (Scotland's Soils), and as being of Carbon and Peat ‘Class 0’ which are mineral soils; peatland habitats are not typically found on such soils (Carbon and peatland 2016 map).

This receptor has no constraints (as identified in Environmental Baseline) that are likely to be impacted by the proposed works and as such ‘geology and soils’ is scoped out and not discussed further within this RoD.

Material assets and waste

The proposed works will include removal and reinstatement of carriageway surface course. Materials used will consist of:

  • Binder material
  • Concrete repair material
  • Surfacing material
  • Waterproofing material

Wastes generated are anticipated to be surfacing, concrete, minor vegetation from wingwalls, bird guano, and wastewater from hydro-demolition. Further details on wastewater from hydro-demolition are provided in the Road Drainage and Water Environment section of this RoD.

Investigation works have been undertaken in July 2026 to determine the road make up and presence of asbestos. Results for asbestos were negative. Further details are provided in the Air Quality and Material Assets and Waste sections of this RoD, in the event that asbestos is found during the works.

Due to the scheme value (approximately £1,000,000), there is a requirement for a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP).

A site compound is required, and the location is to be confirmed by the appointed contractor (likely within TM on the A835 carriageway).

Noise and vibration

A search of the latest Round 4 noise mapping data from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) as displayed on the Scottish Government's GeoNetwork Map returned records for noise levels during the day/evening/night (LDEN) within the A835 and its verges as between 73-74dB.

The scheme does not fall within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) as defined by the Transportation Noise Action Plan (TNAP) (Transportation Noise Action Plan-2024-2028).

Given the semi-rural nature of the surrounding area, it is considered likely that the baseline noise levels will be mainly influenced by vehicles travelling along the A835 and agricultural activities in the wider area.

Population and human health

There is one commercial property located within 300m of the scheme. This property lies approximately 250m southeast of the A835 carriageway and is screened by broadleaved woodland. A footpath/cycle lane runs adjacent to the A835 southbound carriageway along the full scheme extents. There is one layby within 300m of the scheme, located adjacent to the southbound carriageway.

There are no access roads, laybys, bus stops or other public amenities within the scheme extent.

According to Scottish Road Works Commissioner, there are no other works scheduled within 300m of the scheme (Scottish Road Works).

National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 1 runs adjacent to the A835 southbound carriageway along the entire scheme extent (OS Maps).

There are no walking routes listed on WalkHighlands, or Core Paths in Highland Council within 300m of the scheme.

A Transport Scotland manual traffic counter (site name ATC01097) located along the A835 carriageway, 250m southeast from the scheme, recorded an average daily traffic (ADT) flow of 12,258 motor vehicles in 2025, of which 13.6% were heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).

TM will consist of single lane closure with two-way temporary traffic lights.

Road drainage and the water environment

The scheme lies between two groundwater bodies: ‘Strathconan and Muir of Ord Sand and Gravel’ (ID 150790) and ‘Strath Peffer and Alness Coastal’ (ID 150805), both were awarded an overall status of ‘good’ in 2024 by Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) under the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (WFD) (Water Classification Hub).

The ‘Inner Cromarty Firth’ (ID 200443) is a transitional water body in the Scotland river basin district and is spanned by the A835 trunk road at the scheme extents. It was awarded an overall status of ‘good’ in 2024 by Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) under the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (WFD) (Water Classification Hub).

The River Conon (which is part of the Inner Cromarty Firth) is tidal at this location; therefore, the bridge spans the marine environment and lies seaward of the mean high water springs (MHWS) boundary.

The SEPA indicative surface water online flood mapping tool records that the carriageway within the scheme extents is not at risk of surface water flooding.

Climate

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 (‘The Act’), and its subsequent amendment under the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019, sets the framework for the Scottish Government to address climate change. The Act has an ambitious target to reach Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, with any residual emissions balanced by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This is five years earlier than the rest of the UK due to the greater potential for carbon sequestration in Scotland.

The Act was amended to replace interim targets with carbon budgets. Carbon budgets are legally binding caps on greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland over five-year periods. In line with the Act, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) published advice on the level of Scotland’s four carbon budgets, covering the period 2026 to 2045, recommending what the Scottish Government sets its carbon budgets at for annual average levels of emissions. These recommendations are based on an ambitious but credible route to Net Zero for Scotland by 2045.

Emissions reductions from surface transport are the largest contribution to meeting the first two carbon budgets. The pathway for surface transport emission reduction is primarily driven by the uptake of electric vehicles, in addition to measures to enable a shift from car use to public transport and active travel, which all play a role in reducing emissions from fossil fuel cars. Ensuring efficiency of existing transport infrastructure and improving/providing new active travel facilities is therefore important to support these carbon reduction budgets.

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 the above noted legally binding target of net-zero by 2045. 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).