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 are no sites registered 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 nearby land management activities and from passing trains on the West Highland railway line.

Cultural heritage

According to PastMap, there are minor cultural heritage features recorded within 300m of the scheme extents. The closest feature listed on the National Records of Historic Environment (NRHE) and Historic Environment Record (HER) database is listed below:

  • 2 records of NRHE and HER, the closest of which is ‘Coille Dharaich’, enclosure (HER Reference 117242), located 22m north of the scheme extent.

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

The works are confined to the carriageway surface with no verge works required. Furthermore, construction of the A86 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 not situated within a National Park (NP) or National Scenic Area (NSA).

The scheme is located on a rural stretch of the A86, east of the town of Roybridge. Land use within 300m of the scheme extent is classified as managed woodland, rectilinear fields and farms and plantation, with the A86 trunk road a dominant landscape feature (HLA Map).

The Landscape Character Types for this scheme is listed as ‘Rugged Massif – Lochaber’ (LCT 238) and ‘Broad Forested Strath’ (LCT 235) which has the following key characteristics:

Rugged Massif – Lochaber Landscape Character Type has the following key characteristics:

  • Rugged character, a crinkled skyline and a landform accentuated by rocky outcrops and glacial debris.
  • Large rocky masses drawing the eye upwards to ice-scoured rounded summits.
  • Often a transitional landscape with indistinct boundaries with other Landscape Character Types.
  • Often in remote, unsettled and inaccessible locations which, combined with the rugged relief, accentuates the wild character of these areas.
  • Thin soils supporting sparse cover of grasses and heather on higher, drier slopes.
  • Birch scrub and some oak woodland on lower slopes and within burn gullies and hanging valleys.
  • Extensive sheep and deer grazing with stalking and hill walking as popular activities.
  • Forestry occurring over small areas on flatter, lower slopes.

Broad Forested Strath Landscape Character Type has the following key characteristics:

  • Broad, low-lying straths with rolling relief and sculptural glacial landforms.
  • Simple, large scale mosaic of forested ridges, rolling pastures and heather moorland, but dominated by swathes of forestry.
  • A comparatively densely settled landscape with villages, houses and sporadic commercial development.
  • Quarries hidden amongst the woodland cover.
  • Strong communication and service corridors.
  • Long distance views from surrounding hills over the glens, which are framed by steep glen sides.
  • Lochs, rivers or canals on glen floor have often been engineered or substantially altered by man.

The A86 Trunk Road connects Spean Bridge and Kingussie. It commences at the A86 / A82 junction within Spean Bridge leading generally north-eastwards for a distance of 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 or have ecological connectivity to any European site designated for biodiversity features e.g., Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Special Protected Areas (SPA), or Ramsar sites.

The works lie within the Parallel Roads of Lochaber Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which is designated for earth science and therefore discussed in the ‘Geology and soils’ section below.

There are no Local Nature Conservation Sites (LNCS), or Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) designated for biodiversity features within 300m or with ecological connectivity to the scheme.

Numerous bird species were recorded on the National Biodiversity Network (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 also holds records of injurious plant species (as listed in the Network Management Contract (NMC)). These include broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius), common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris), creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense) and curled dock (Rumex crispus).

Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) holds no records of invasive or injurious weed species within 300m of the scheme extents.

Habitats surrounding the A86 carriageway are dominated by broadleaved woodland and plantation woodlands of coniferous tree species.

Several areas of woodland listed on the Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) are located within 300m of the scheme. The closest being an area of 9.21ha of ancient (of semi-natural origin) woodland, approximately 20m south of the scheme extent at its closest point.

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

Geology and soils

The works lie within Parallel Roads of Lochaber SSSI (NatureScot). The SSSI is notified for fluvial geomorphology of Scotland and quaternary of Scotland.

The SSSI is noted for its landforms created by glacial retreat 12,900 and 11,500 years ago. This site provides the clearest and most complete assemblage of landforms and sediments providing evidence in Britain for the formation and drainage of ice-dammed lakes. The features were recognised internationally by the 19th century and have subsequently been crucial to the development of geomorphological concepts and the understanding of landscape evolution (Site Link).

The SSSI at the scheme extents is overlapped by Glen Roy and the Parallel Roads of Lochaber Geological Conservation Review Site (GCRS) (SiteLink). There is no information available on Sitelink regarding the geological features of the GCRS, but it is assumed that these will be the same or similar to those for the SSSI. Consultation with NatureScot was carried out in July 2025 to assess potential impacts of the proposed works on the Parallel Roads of Lochaber SSSI and Glen Roy and the Parallel Roads of Lochaber GCRS and confirmed that the proposal is not likely to damage the protected natural features of the SSSI or GCRS and therefore does not require consent.

Bedrock within the scheme extent is comprised of Level Schist Formation (pelite and calcsilicate-rock) which is a metamorphic bedrock (BGS Geology Viewer).

Superficial deposits within the scheme extents are comprised of glaciolacustrine deposits – clay, silt and sand (BGS Geology Viewer).

Soils within the scheme are recorded as humus-iron podzols with mineral alluvial soils with peaty alluvial soils, and peaty gleyed podzols with peaty gleys with dystrophic semi-confined peat (Scotland's Soils).

Soils within the scheme extent are recorded as being of Carbon and Peat ‘Class 0’, which is associated with mineral soil where peatland habitats are not typically found, and ‘Class 5’ no peatland habitat recorded (may also include area of bare soils). Soils are carbon-rich and deep peat (Carbon and Peatland Map).

Material assets and waste

The 1,167m scheme involves removal of the surface course and localised areas of binder course. Materials used will consist of:

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

A Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is required for the works.

Bituminous material (European Waste Catalogue Code: 17 03 02) will be removed from site, none of which is classified as hazardous material containing coal tar. Removed planings from the surface course, 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 SEPA, as described in Schedule 3 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 2011.

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

Noise and vibration

Approximately three properties are located within 300m of the scheme, comprising residential, commercial and crofting buildings. The closest property lies 20m south of the scheme and is screened by a 20m wide vegetation belt.

Works are not located within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) or Candidate Quiet Area (CQA) (Transport Scotland).

Noise modelled data from Environmental Noise Directive (END) Round 4 Noise Mapping indicates 24 hour annual average noise levels (Lden) between 65 and 68dB on the A86 at the scheme extents (SpatialData).

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 A85; with secondary sources derived from the nearby railway line and land management activities.

Population and human health

There are approximately three properties within 300m of the scheme extents, comprising residential, commercial and crofting buildings. The closest property lies 20m south of the A86 carriageway with roadside verge screening provided. Access to this property is on the westbound carriageway within the scheme extent. Another access point leading to a property is located at the western end of the scheme extent. There are no laybys, 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)) within 300m of the scheme.

The walking routes ‘Achaderry and River Spean circuit’ listed on WalkHighlands and the ‘Achaderry to Bunroy’ Core Path (LO21.02) listed on Core Paths in Highland Council are located within the scheme extents.

Transport Scotland’s manual data counter (site number 40848) located along the A86 carriageway, 13.3km east from the scheme, recorded an annual daily total (ADT) of 1,626 motor vehicles in 2024, of which 5% were heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) (Transport Scotland).

It is expected that TM will consist of lane closures with two-way temporary traffic lights, however the exact TM setup is still to be confirmed.

Road drainage and the water environment

The scheme falls within the Kinlochleven groundwater body (ID: 150684), which has been classified by SEPA in 2023 as having ‘Good’ overall condition.

The River Spean – Lochy to Laggan Dam (ID: 20346) is a river in the River Lochy catchment. It was awarded an overall status of ‘Good ecological potential’ by SEPA in 2023 and is approximately 70m south of the scheme at its closest point.

The SEPA indicative surface water online flood mapping tool records that the several small areas on the A86 carriageway within the scheme extents are exposed to surface water flooding. These areas are noted to have a low to high likelihood of flooding (e.g. each year these areas have a 0.1% to 10% likelihood of flooding).

Small unclassified surface waterbodies and/or drainage channels lie within 300m of the scheme, some of which are culverted under 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).