Description of local environment

Air quality

Properties within 300m of the scheme – refer to ‘Population and Human Health’.

No Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) (Air Quality Management Areas) are located within 10km of the schemes.

There are no air quality monitoring stations within 10km of the works (Scottish Air Quality).

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

The nearest Transport Scotland manual data counter (site name ATC01050) lies approximately 6km northeast from the closest scheme extents and recorded an annual daily total (ADT) of 1872 motor vehicles in 2024, of which 19.7% were Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

Baseline air quality is likely to be primarily influenced by vehicles travelling along the A86 trunk road. Secondary sources are derived from day-to-day agricultural/forestry land management activities.

Cultural heritage

A search of PastMap mapping tool (Pastmap) identified one Listed Building ‘Old St Kenneth’s Church’ and one Scheduled Monument ‘St Kenneth’s Church and Cross Slab Laggan’ which lie approximately 55m and 70m north respectively from the A86 Kinloch Laggan scheme.

Several records on the National Records of the Historic Environment (NRHE) and Historic Environment Record (HER) databases are noted within 300m of the schemes. The nearest of these, is a record on the NRHE database, ‘Loch Laggan James Hendry Memorial’ which lies approximately 25m south from the A86 Kinloch Laggan scheme.

There are no Garden & Designed Landscapes, Conservation Areas, Battlefields or World Heritage Sites found within 300m of the scheme extents.

No features of Cultural Heritage value have been identified within the scheme extents and its immediate area. Furthermore, the works are confined to the man-made ground of the trunk road with the works being like-for-like. Construction of the trunk road is likely to have removed any archaeological remains that may have been present within the area. As such, ‘cultural heritage’ is scoped out and is not discussed further within this RoD.

Landscape and visual effects

The schemes fall within Cairngorms National Park (CNP) (8623) which is designated for the following 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 is not located within a National Scenic Area (NSA) or any other site designated for its landscape and visual character (SiteLink).

The Landscape Character Type within the schemes is recorded as ‘Upland Glen – Cairngorms’ (LCT 126 - Upland Glen - Cairngorms) and ‘Broad Loch and Glen’ (LCT 089 - Broad Loch and Glen) which have the following key characteristics:

Upland Glen Cairngorms

  • 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.
  • View to adjacent uplands; from which parts of the glens are visible and provide contrast.

Broad Loch and Glen

  • 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 and requires a bridging point.
  • Variety in texture, patterns, and colour associated with the different land cover 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.

Land use (HLAMap) within the schemes is classified as,

  • Rough grazing
  • Freshwater area (Loch Laggan)
  • Managed woodland
  • Plantation woodland
  • Rectilinear fields and farms.

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 Creag Meagaidh Special Area of Conservation (SAC) at its nearest point lies approximately 1.9km northwest from the A86 Kinloch Laggan scheme (SiteLink) (NatureScot Site Code: 8235).

Given the distance of the works to the SAC and due to the qualifying features being non-mobile in nature with lack of any connectivity to the works location, further assessment is not required and a Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) Proforma has not been produced.

The Creag Meagaidh SPA at its nearest point lies approximately 3km northwest from the A86 Kinloch Laggan scheme (SiteLink) (NatureScot Site Code: 8487). Given the distance of the works to the SPA further assessment is not required and a HRA Proforma has not been produced.

No other locally or nationally designated sites with biodiversity features (such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Local Nature Reserves or National Nature Reserves) are located within 300m of the scheme (SiteLink).

A search of NBN Atlas identified no records of invasive and injurious plant species (as listed in the Network Management Contract (NMC)).

A search of Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) holds no records of invasive and injurious plant species (as listed in the NMC) within 300m of the scheme.

Habitat within the schemes include rough grazing, with pockets of plantation woodlands of densely planted coniferous tree species and managed woodlands consisting of broad-leaved and native pine tree species. Freshwater habitat provided by Loch Laggan, provides habitat for a wide range of semi-aquatic and aquatic species.

Areas of ‘ancient’ (of semi-natural origin) woodlands are present within 300m of the schemes. The closest (site name/ID: ‘Black Wood/7’) flanks the A86 carriageway within the eastern extent of the A86 Inverpattack Lodge scheme (Ancient Woodland Inventory).

According to Highland Council there are no (TPO) located within 300m the schemes (Highland Tree Preservation Orders).

It is considered unlikely that any terrestrial mammal species of conservation importance are associated with permanent habitat or resting places within the area of likely construction disturbance. Therefore, a field survey has been ruled out, and a desktop study has been deemed sufficient for this assessment.

Geology and soils

The scheme does not lie within a Geological Conservation Review Site (GCRS), or a geologically designated SSSI (SiteLink).

Bedrock within the scheme extents is comprised of the following bedrocks (BGS Geology Viewer):

  • Aonach Beag Semipelite Formation – schistose semipelite, micaceous psammite and quartzite. Metamorphic bedrock.
  • Creag Dhubh Psammite Formation – psammite, micaceaous. Metamorphic bedrock.
  • Loch Laggan Psammite Formation – psammite, micaceous. Metamorphic bedrock.

Superficial deposit within the scheme extents is comprised of the following superficial deposits (BGS Geology Viewer):

  • Till, Devensian – diamicton.
  • Alluvium – Clay, silt, sand, and gravel.
  • Hummocky (moundy) glacial deposits – diamicton, gravel, sand, and silt.

The local soil type is recorded as humus-iron podzols with peaty gleyed podzols and peaty gleyed podzols with podzolic rankers with peaty rankers (Scotland's Soils).

Soils within the scheme extent are recorded as being ‘Class 0’ and ‘Class 4’, as displayed on Scotland’s Peat Map Carbon and Peatland Map. Class 0 is mineral soil, and peatland habitats are not typically found on such soils. Class 4 is associated with an area unlikely to be associated with peatland habitats or wet and acidic type. Unlikely to include carbon-rich soils.

Material assets and waste

The resurfacing works are required to replace the worn surface and general maintenance of the A86 trunk road, likely requiring binder inlay, and reinstallation of road markings. Materials used will consist of:

  • Asphaltic material
  • Bituminous emulsion bond coat
  • Milled in road studs
  • Thermoplastic road marking paint

Wastes are anticipated to be removed planings from the surface course, which will be recovered for re-use in line with BEAR Scotland’s Procedure 126: The Production of Fully Recovered Asphalt Road Planings. The Contractor is responsible for the disposal of road planings, and this has been registered in accordance with a Paragraph 13(a) waste exemption issued by Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), as described in Schedule 3 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 2011.

If coal tar is encountered; contaminated road planings will be classified as a Special Waste. Special waste consignment notes (SWCN) will be obtained from SEPA to allow the movement of the contaminated planings. Coal tar contaminated road planings will be transported by a registered waste carrier to an appropriate waste recovery facility, and SEPA will be notified prior to the Special Waste leaving site.

The value of the scheme does not exceed £350,000; therefore, a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is not required.

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

Noise and vibration

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

Works are not located within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) as defined by the Transportation Noise Action Plan-2019-2023 (Road maps).

Noise modelled data from Environmental Noise Directive (END) Round 4 Noise Mapping indicates 24 hour annual average noise level during the night (LNGT) ranges between 55 and 65dB within the A86 and its associated verges (Scottish Government's GeoNetwork map).

Baseline noise levels are likely to be primarily influenced by traffic travelling along the A86 carriageway. Secondary sources are derived from vehicles travelling along the local road network and rural activities associated with land management within the area.

Population and human health

Seven residential properties are scattered within 300m of the works. The nearest residential property lies approximately 10m north of the A86 Inverpattack Lodge scheme and has no roadside verge screening provided. The nearest residential property lies approximately 30m northeast from the A86 Kinloch Laggan scheme and has little to no roadside verge screening. A large parking area to the front of this property lies adjacent to the A86 carriageway, where a small building is located. This building appears to relate with tourist activity. Remaining dwellings are set-back with minimal screening provided.

There are two laybys which lie adjacent to the A86 Kinloch Laggan southbound carriageway within the scheme extent.

There are no bus stops or paved pedestrian footpaths located within either of the schemes.

The are no National Cycle Network (NCN) routes located within 300m either scheme (OS Maps).

Access to a core path listed on Core Paths in Highland Council area (path ref: UBS26) lies approximately 210m southwest from the A86 Inverpattack Lodge scheme extent. This path is also listed on WalkHighlands as ‘Falls of Pattack’ walking route.

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

TM will consist of night-time road closures with hourly amnesties.

Road drainage and the water environment

‘Loch Laggan’ (ID: 100198), which is a lake, in the River Lochy catchment of the Scotland River basin district, lies approximately 70m south from the scheme. The water body has been designated as a heavily modified water body on account of physical alterations that cannot be addressed without a significant impact on water storage for hydroelectricity generation. It was awarded an overall status of ‘good ecological potential’ in 2023 by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) under the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (WFD) (Water Classification Hub).

‘River Pattack – Loch Laggan to Loch Pattack’ (ID: 20347) is a river in the River Lochy catchment of the Scotland River basin district. At its closest point lies approximately 30m south from the A86 carriageway. It was awarded an overall status of ‘moderate’ in 2023 by SEPA (Water Classification Hub).

‘Upper Glen Coe’ (ID 150693) is a groundwater body, in the Scotland River basin district, which underlies the schemes. It was awarded an overall status of ‘good’ in 2023 by SEPA (Water Classification Hub). This groundwater body is also designated as Drinking Water Protected Areas (Ground).

An unclassified watercourse ‘Feith Bhuidhe’ travels below the A86 Kinloch Laggan scheme. Several other small unclassified surface waterbodies and/or culverted drainage channels lie within 300m of scheme extents, some of which are culverted under the A86 carriageway.

The SEPA indicative surface water online SEPA Flood Maps tool identifies a high likelihood (10% chance) of river and surface water flooding each year within the A86 Inverpattack Lodge scheme. The banks of Loch Laggan within 300m of the A86 Kinloch Laggan scheme have a high likelihood (10% chance) of flooding each year (SEPA Flood Maps) but this does not appear to encroach onto the A86 carriageway within the scheme extents.

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).