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 10m of the scheme (Scottish Air Quality).

There are no registered sites on the Scottish Pollution Release Inventory (SPRI) within 10km of the scheme (Scottish Pollution Release Inventory).

Baseline air quality for this scheme is primarily influenced by traffic along the A86 trunk road. Secondary releases are likely delivered by land management within the wider area.

Cultural heritage

The following cultural heritage features are recorded within 300m of the scheme (PastMap):

  • Three Listed Buildings; the closest of which, ‘Ardverikie Gate Lodge, Gate Piers and Bridge Over River Pattack’ (ref. LB6911), lies 20m south of the scheme extents.
  • Ten features of lesser cultural significance (i.e. Historic Environment Record (HER) and National Record of the Historic Environment (NHRE) sites); the closest of which, ‘Ardverikie House, Gate Lodge, Gatepiers and Bridge Over River Pattack’ (ref. MHG45655), which overlaps the scheme extents.

There are no Scheduled Monuments, Conservation Areas, Battlefields, World Heritage Sites or Garden and Designed Landscapes within 300m of the scheme extent (PastMap).

The works are confined to the trunk road boundary. As such, construction of the A86 trunk road 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 RoD.

Landscape and visual effects

The scheme is located within the Cairngorms National Park (NatureScot Site Code: 8623) which is designated for the following special general qualities:

  • Magnificent mountains towering over moorland, forest and strath.
  • Vastness of space, scale and height.
  • Strong juxtaposition of contrasting landscapes.
  • A landscape of layers, from inhabited strath to remote, uninhabited upland.
  • ‘The harmony of complicated curves’.
  • Landscapes both cultural and natural.

The scheme does not fall within a National Scenic Area (NSA) (SiteLink).

Landscape Character Type for the scheme is listed as ‘Broad Loch and Glen’ (LCT 235) and ‘Upland Glen – Cairngorms’ (LCT 126).

‘Broad Loch and Glen’ has the following key characteristics:

  • Very long, narrow, slightly curved loch, channelled between high mountains to the north-west and lower craggy hills to the south-east.
  • Mainly steep slopes on the north-west side, and some more gently sloping land on the south-east side, with flatter land occurring at the junction of occasional side tributaries on both sides of the loch.
  • A high proportion of tree cover, which is most extensive on the south-east side, consisting of stands of native woodland and forest cover on lower slopes close to the loch.
  • Distinct tiers of landcover on the north-west side, with low-lying stands of native woodlands, open areas of mainly heather and grassland landcover, rising to high alpine cover.
  • Areas of smaller scale managed fields and woodlands with buildings around estates, contrasting with the large scale of surrounding landcover patterns.
  • Strong contrast in land use between the opposite shores of the loch, related to the presence and busy nature of the trunk road on the north side, and the extent of forest cover on the south side.
  • Limited settlement of mainly traditional style buildings occurring on lower ground near the loch, usually associated with estates and often occurring where the intersection with a tributary glen creates an area of flatter ground or requires a bridging point.
  • Variety in texture, patterns and colour associated with the different landcover and varying openness and enclosure of landforms.
  • Views to distant, distinctive, landmark hills along the loch and in more open areas.
  • The dramatic combination of the loch, forests, woodlands and peaks with occasional estate buildings.

‘Upland Glen – Cairngorms’ has the following key characteristics:

  • Strong evidence of glacial processes, including steepened sides and level floors, shattered rock faces on higher slopes, hummocks of resistant rock on some glen floors and terraces of glacial deposits at the edges of glen floors.
  • Often form arrival points into the Cairngorms National Park.
  • Size varies from large open passes to narrower, more secluded glens.
  • Enclosed predominantly by steep slopes.
  • Frequently differing land-use on one side of the glen to the other - linked to aspect.
  • Improved, grazed fields on glen floors and floodplains.
  • Mostly settled, some only sparsely, but often extensive evidence of past settlement, including prehistoric hut circles and associated field systems, pre-improvement townships, and seasonal shielings.
  • Some landmark historic buildings.
  • Access varies from narrow roads, estate and forestry tracks to main routes, but most have some form of road running through them.
  • Varied experience when passing through glens from open and expansive to sheltered and secluded.
  • Views to adjacent uplands; from which parts of the glens are visible and provide contrast.

Land use within 300m of the scheme extent is classified as managed woodland, rough grazing, rectilinear fields and farms, plantation and freshwater area (HLAMap).

The land surrounding the trunk road is classified as 5.2 (‘Land capable of use as improved grassland’) and 6.1 (‘Land capable of use as rough grazings with a high proportion of palatable plants’) (Scotland's Soils).

The A86 trunk road connects Spean Bridge and Kingussie. It commences at the A86 / A82 junction within Spean Bridge leading generally north-eastwards for 65 kilometres to its junction with the A9. The A86 is a single carriageway along its length.

Biodiversity

The scheme does not lie within 2km of, or have connectivity with, any European sites (i.e. Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), or Ramsar sites) (SiteLink).

There are no locally or nationally designated sites for biodiversity such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), National Nature Reserves (NNR), or Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) within 300m of the scheme (SiteLink).

Numerous bird species were recorded on the National Biodiversity Network 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.

The NBN Atlas and Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) holds no record of any invasive non-native plants or injurious weeds (as listed in the Network Management Contract (NMC)) within 300m of the scheme.

Habitats surrounding the A86 carriageway is dominated by broad-leaved woodland flanking the trunk road, with rough grazing and scattered trees further afield. Freshwater habitat provided by River Pattack which lies adjacent to the scheme, at 18m south at its closest point. The River Pattack flows into Loch Laggan, approximately 420m downstream.

An area of ancient woodland (Ancient Woodland Inventory) is located to the north of the scheme, adjacent to the A86 carriageway, and is listed as ancient (of semi-natural origin).

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

Geology and soils

The Kinlochlaggan Boulder Beds SSSI (NatureScot Site Code: 858) is designated for Dalradian (earth sciences), and lies adjacent to the scheme, overlapping some sections of the A86 carriageway.

There are no Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRSs) designated for geological features within 300m of the scheme (SiteLink).

Component soils throughout the scheme extent comprise of humus-iron podzols with peaty gleyed podzols (Scotland’s Soils).

Soils in the area around the scheme extent are comprised of ‘Class 0’ soils, which are composed of mineral soils and peat is not typically found on such soils (Carbon and Peatland Map 2016).

Bedrock geology within the scheme consists of (BGS Geology Viewer):

  • Kinlochlaggan Quartzite Formation – quartzite
  • Loch Laggan psammite formation – micaceous psammite

Superficial deposits within the scheme consist of Till, Devensian – diamicton (BGS Geology Viewer).

Material assets and waste

The resurfacing works are required to replace worn surface and undertake general maintenance of the A86 trunk road. Materials used will consist of:

  • Asphaltic material (AC32/AC20/TS2010)
  • Bituminous emulsion bond coat
  • Milled in road studs
  • Thermoplastic road marking paint
  • Replacement bollards
  • Concrete (for base of bollards)

Wastes are anticipated to be primarily planings from the carriageway surface course. All road planings shall be managed in accordance with SEPA Position Statement WAS-PS-07 (LRWA 3) and recycled in line with SEPA Guidance WAS-G-DEF-05 on End-of-Waste for Recycled Aggregates. The Contractor shall be responsible for ensuring full compliance with these requirements. Coal tar has not been highlighted as being present within the scheme.

Any ditching waste remaining on-site must follow SEPA’s LRWA 9, details of which will be listed below in the impacts and proposed mitigation section.

No site compound is required for these works and storage of plant and equipment will be within TM on the A86 carriageway.

As the value of the scheme does not exceed £350,000, a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is not required for these works.

Noise and vibration

For residential, community and commercial receptors refer to the ‘Population and Human Health’ section below.

The average day, evening and night time (LDEN) noise levels at the scheme extent range between 67-70dB (Scotland's Noise).

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 rural nature found within the scheme, it is considered likely that the baseline noise levels will be low, with noise mainly influenced by vehicles travelling along the A86 carriageway.

Population and human health

There are approximately seven residential properties within 300m of the scheme. The closest of which are two houses which lie adjacent to the eastbound carriageway of the A86 with no visual or acoustic screening.

There is one layby on the eastbound lane of the A86, and access roads to private roads within the scheme extents.

There are no bus stops, paved pedestrian footpaths or other public amenities within the scheme extent.

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

There are no National Cycle Network (NCN) routes (OS Maps), walking routes listed on WalkHighlands or Core Paths in Highland Council within 300m of the scheme.

Transport Scotland’s manual data counter (site name ATC01050) located along the A86 carriageway, 8.5km northeast from the scheme, recorded an annual daily total (ADT) of 2,003 motor vehicles in 2025, of which 20.1% were heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).

Traffic management will consist of a mix of overnight and daytime road closure with regular amnesties. Control of junctions where required.

Road drainage and the water environment

‘Upper Glen Coe’ (ID 150693) is a groundwater body, in the Scotland River basin district, which underlies the scheme. 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).

‘River Pattach – Loch Laggan to Loch Pattack’ is a river in the River Lochy catchment of the Scotland river basin district and is located 18m south of the scheme at is closest point and discharges into Loch Laggan. It was awarded an overall status of ‘moderate’ in 2024 by SEPA under the WFD (Water Classification Hub).

Small unclassified surface waterbodies and/or culverted drainage channels may be present within 300m of the scheme extents, some of which are culverted under the A86 carriageway.

SEPA Flood Map has highlighted small areas of medium to high risk of surface water and small watercourses flooding (i.e. a 0.5-10% chance of flooding each year) within the A86 carriageway at the scheme extent.

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).