Description of local environment

Air quality

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

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

No Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) sites (which record air pollutant releases), are within 10km of the scheme (Scottish Pollution Release Inventory).

Due to the location of the works, baseline air quality is likely to be primarily influenced by traffic travelling along the A86 and local roads; with secondary sources likely shaped by land management practices.

Cultural heritage

No Scheduled Monuments, Garden and Designed Landscapes, Battlefields, Conservation Areas or World Heritage sites were identified within 300m of the scheme (PastMap).

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

  • Category C Listed Building ‘Newtonmore, Craigmhor Hotel’ (Ref: LB7672) lies approximately 60m southeast of the A86 MacPherson Junction at its closest extent.
  • Several National Records of the Historic Environment (NRHE) and Historic Environment Records (HER) lie within 300m of the scheme. The closest feature is ‘Newtonmore Hotel’ (NRHE Ref: 25200) (HER Ref: MHG4514), located approximately 5m north of the A86 River Spey scheme.

There are no features of Cultural Heritage significance within the footprint of the scheme extents and 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 lies within the Cairngorms National Park (CNP; NatureScot Site Code: 8623), which has 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 lie within a National Scenic Area (NSA), National Nature Reserve (NNR) or a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) (SiteLink).

Landscape Character Type (LCT) for the scheme is listed as ‘Upland Strath’ (LCT 127 - Upland Strath), which has the following key characteristics:

  • Large, broad, flat bottomed strath, with some narrower pinch-point sections.
  • Valley floor with the meandering River Spey and frequent lochs and marshes.
  • Meadows and wetlands prone to flooding on the valley floor.
  • Mixed pastures and broadleaved woodland in more undulating areas.
  • Wetlands flanked by mixed woodland and conifer forests.
  • Main communication corridor housing A9 trunk road and railway.
  • Estate houses and policy landscapes in many parts of the strath.
  • A well-settled area with a series of settlements occurs along the northern side of the strath at bridging points over the River Spey. They are popular tourist destinations serving the Cairngorms National Park. Elsewhere farms and houses are frequent along main and minor roads.
  • Views to the Cairngorm mountains.
  • Noise and activity from busy A9.

The land use surrounding the scheme is listed as urban areas, agricultural planned village, smallholdings, rectilinear fields and farms, recreation areas, managed woodland, rough grazing and golf course (HLA Map).

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 River Spey Special Area of Conservation (SAC) (NatureScot Site Code: 8365) lies within 10m of both schemes.

The River Spey – Insh Marshes Ramsar site (NatureScot Site Code: 8452), Insh Marshes SAC (NatureScot Site Code: 8274) and River Spey – Insh Marshes Special Protection Area (SPA) (NatureScot Site Code: 8571) all lie approximately 860m southeast of the A86 River Spey scheme and 910m south of the A86 MacPherson Junction scheme.

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 (LNR) located within 300m of the scheme (SiteLink).

The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas holds several records of bird species within 2km of the schemes. The search criteria included only records during the past ten years, and which have open-use attributions (OGL-CC0-CC-BY). Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), all wild birds and their active nests are protected, with certain species receiving additional protections.

The NBN Atlas holds following injurious weeds and/or invasive plants (as listed in the Network Management Contract (NMC)) under the same search criteria for both schemes:

  • Broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius)
  • Common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris)
  • Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense)
  • Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
  • Rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium)

Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) holds no records of injurious weeds and/or invasive plants (as listed in the NMC) within 300m of the scheme.

Habitat in the surrounding area is dominated by pastoral agricultural land with woodland at the scheme western extents and along the banks of the River Calder. Habitat at the scheme eastern extents is somewhat limited due to the urban land associated with Newtonmore. Freshwater habitat is provided by the River Calder which is spanned by the A86 adjacent to the scheme.

One area of woodland listed as ‘ancient (of seminatural origin)’ on the Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) lies approximately 100m southwest of the scheme.

There is one Tree Preservation Order (TPO) designated by the Highland Council within 300m of the schemes (TPO). This relates to pockets of trees along Laggan Road (HRC08C), which occur intermittently adjacent to the A86 within the A86 MacPherson Junction scheme extent.

BEAR Scotland undertook an ecological constraints survey on 1st of May 2026, encompassing the River Calder (part of the River Spey SAC) and the embankments surrounding A86 Calder Bridge, which is located between the two schemes.

Geology and soils

There are no Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRSs) or Geological SSSI located within 300m of the scheme (SiteLink).

The British Geological Survey (BGS) online mapping tool records that the bedrock geology within the schemes extents is recorded as Loch Laggan Psammite Formation-Micaceous psammite. 

The BGS mapping tool records the following superficial deposits within the scheme extents:

  • Alluvium-Sand, gravel and boulders
  • Glaciofluvial sheet deposits-Sand, gravel and boulders

Soils within the schemes are recorded as humus-iron podzols from fluvioglacial and raised beach sands and gravels derived from acid rocks (Scotland's Soils). With alluvial soils derived from mineral alluvial soils with peaty alluvial soils also noted within the scheme extent of A86 MacPherson Junction.

Soils within the schemes extent are recorded as being ‘Class 0’ as displayed on Scotland’s Peat Map. Class 0 are mineral soils where peat is not typically found.

Material assets and waste

The proposed works will entail the resurfacing of the A86 carriageway and road markings with material used to consist of:

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

The civils work will require the following materials:

  • D400 Gully Frames
  • Hazard Markers
  • Concrete

It is expected that the works will produce the following waste materials:

  • Planings; 100% of uncontaminated planings are to be recycled/reused off site.
    • no coal tar is present within the A86 River Spey scheme extent.
    • There is an expected total of 236.9t of Coal Bound Tar classified as hazardous material to be removed from A86 MacPherson Junction.
  • Old road studs; disposed of at local waste facility where re-use is not possible

The value for each site does not exceed £350,000; therefore, Site Waste Management Plans (SWMP) are not required.

Noise and vibration

The works do not fall within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) as defined by the Transportation Noise Action Plan (Road Maps) (TNAP).

Lden or ‘day, evening, night average noise levels’ are modelled within the scheme extent. Noise levels are recorded as being between 57 and 69dB on the road (ScotGov).

Baseline noise and vibration in the study area is mainly influenced by traffic travelling along the A86 and local roads; with secondary sources likely shaped by urban and land management practices.

Population and human health

The scheme lies within the village of Newtonmore, with several residential properties located within 300m of the scheme. The closest property to the A86 River Spey works is situated approximately 120m north of the scheme extent with visual and acoustic screening provided by tree belt. Properties further afield, have limited visual and acoustic screening but are located at greater distances from the A86, reducing the potential for direct effects from the works. In relation to the A86 MacPherson Junction, the closest property is situated within 5m of the road within the scheme extent with no visual or acoustic screening.

Access arrangements are present throughout both scheme extents, including multiple access roads, field gates, and connections to residential properties. At the A86 River Spey scheme, access is more limited, with a farmland gate and a farm/residential access track connecting at two points. At A86 MacPherson Junction, there is a higher density of access points serving local roads, properties, and agricultural land.

Non‑motorised user (NMU) facilities vary across the schemes. No formal NMU infrastructure is present within the A86 River Spey scheme; however, a layby with a bench is located approximately 75m north‑east of the bridge. In contrast, the A86 MacPherson Junction scheme includes a northbound adjacent footpath along much of its extent, with street lighting provided throughout. Bus stops are not located directly within either scheme extent, although stops are present approximately 80m north of the MacPherson Junction scheme and approximately 30m south along the B9150.

In terms of wider NMU connectivity, no National Cycle Network (NCN) routes are present within 300m of the A86 River Spey scheme. However, NCN Route 7 runs adjacent to the A86 MacPherson Junction scheme, utilising the A86 and continuing along the B9150. Core Path ‘UBS2’ (Highland Council) runs along the east bank of the River Calder, approximately 40m from the A86 River Spey scheme, and crosses the A86 within the A86 MacPherson Junction scheme extent. This route also forms part of the WalkHighlands ‘Wildcat Trail, Newtonmore’.

Baseline traffic data from a Transport Scotland counter (Site ID: 0000ATC01051), located within the A86 MacPherson Junction scheme and approximately 240m north of the A86 River Spey scheme, recorded an Average Daily Traffic (ADT) flow of 1,021 vehicles in 2025, of which 19.9% were Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

According to the Scottish Road Works Commissioner (Scottish Road Works Commissioner), no other roadworks are currently scheduled within 300m of the A86 River Spey scheme. At the A86 MacPherson Junction scheme, footway works are currently being undertaken by BEAR Scotland, with completion expected by 30/04/2026. In addition, the Highland Council has programmed works approximately 125m south of the scheme to construct a new access for the Perth Road development, with an estimated start between 22/03/2026 and 21/06/2026 for a duration of 10 working days. No other roadworks are scheduled within 300m of the schemes.

TM will involve road closure with convoy amnesties facilitated by 2-way TTL and control of junction where required for the A86 River Spey scheme and road closure with diversions, control of junctions where required a with the diversions via the A9 and A889.

Road drainage and the water environment

The scheme falls within the ‘Strathnairn, Speyside and Cairngorms’ (ID 150709) and ‘Upper Spey Sand and Gravel’ (ID 150814) groundwater bodies which were classified by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in 2024 as having an overall status of ‘Good’ and is also a Drinking Water Protected Area (Ground) (DWPA).

The River Calder is a river (ID: 23145), in the River Spey catchment of the Scotland river basin district. The main stem is approximately 30.5km in length and lies within 10m of the schemes at their closest extents. In 2024, it was assigned an overall status of ‘Moderate’ by SEPA under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) (SEPA).

The schemes falls within an area that has a 0-10% chance of flooding each year from river or surface water and small watercourses (SEPA Flood Map).

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).