Description of local environment

Air quality

There are no Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) which have been declared by the Highland Council 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).

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

Baseline air quality in the study area is mainly influenced by vehicles travelling along the A889 trunk road. Secondary sources are derived from land management within the surrounding area.

Cultural heritage

There are no designated features for cultural heritage such as, Listed Buildings, Scheduled Monuments, Garden & Designed Landscapes, Conservation Areas, Battlefields or World Heritage Sites found within 300m of the scheme extent (PastMap).

Several records of lesser cultural heritage importance are noted on the National Records of the Historic Environment (NRHE) and Historic Environment Record (HER) databases within 300m of the scheme. The nearest of these is a NRHE/HER ‘Druim A'Crithinn, Catlodge Farmstead’ (MHG27183), which lies approximately 200m north of the scheme extent (PastMap).

As a result of the works taking place strictly within the existing man-made footprint, it has been determined that the proposed project does not carry the potential to cause direct or indirect impact to features of cultural heritage importance. As such, impact has been assessed as being ‘no change’ and has been scoped out of requiring further assessment.

Landscape and visual effects

The scheme is not located within a National Scenic Area (NSA) (Scotland's Environment). However, the scheme does fall within Cairngorms National Park (CNP) (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 Landscape Character Type (LCT) within the scheme extent is recorded as ‘Upland Strath’ (LCT 127) and ‘Smooth Rounded Hills – Cairngorms’ (LCT 123), which have the following key characteristics:

LCT 127 - Upland Strath

  • 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.

LCT 123 - Smooth Rounded Hills – Cairngorms

  • Expansive landscape of gently rounded landforms with gentle slopes and successive long, smooth interlocking spurs and ridges.
  • Hill slopes lightly dissected by small burns lead to broad glens.
  • Scattered small tree groups on valley floors.
  • Geometric conifer forests contrasting with the gently rounded landform.
  • Heather moor clad upper slopes and summits.
  • Settlement is limited to occasional remote settlements and farms and some estate houses.
  • Sense of openness and remoteness.

Land use (HLAMap) within 300m of the scheme extent is classified as rough grazing.

The A889 carriageway is a prominent linear landscape feature. The road corridor, for example, has a distinct character shaped by fast-flowing traffic, road markings, safety barriers, signage, landscaping, etc. The scale of the carriageway detracts from the quality and character of the wider landscape.

The A889 Trunk Road, within the North West Network Management Contract (NMC), connects Dalwhinnie with Laggan Bridge, predominantly acting as a link between the A9 and A86 Trunk Roads. It commences at (but excludes) its junction with the A9 at Dalwhinnie leading generally northwards for 14 kilometres to (but excludes) its junction with the A86 at Laggan Bridge. The A889 is a single carriageway along its length. 

Biodiversity

The River Spey Special Area of Conservation (SAC) lies approximately 830m north from the scheme (NatureScot Site Code: 8365). Due to the ecological connectivity to the SAC, a Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) has been undertaken to assess the potential effects of the works on the qualifying features of the site. Refer to the Biodiversity Impacts and Mitigation section below for conclusion of the HRA.

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

Numerous records of bird species were also returned within 2km of the works under the same search criteria. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) (WCA), all wild birds and their nests are protected.

A search of NBN Atlas identified no records of invasive and injurious plant species (as listed in the NMC) using the same search criteria.

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 to the south the scheme is dominated by open grazing pastures, arable land, moorland, montane scrub, and scattered broadleaved trees.

There are no areas of woodland as listed on the Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) within 300m of the scheme extent.

There are no areas of trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) by the Highland Council within 300m of the scheme extent.

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

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

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

  • Mashie semipelite formation - gneissose semipelite
  • Fara psammite formation – psammite and micaceous psammite

Superficial deposits (BGS Geology Viewer) within the scheme consists of:

  • Hummocky (moundy) glacial deposits – sand, gravel and boulders
  • Glaciofluvial ice contact deposits – gravel, sand and silt

Soils within the scheme are recorded as humus-iron podzols and peaty gleyed podzols (Scotland's Soils).

Soils within the scheme extent are recorded as being of Carbon and Peatland ‘Class 0’, which is associated with mineral soil where peat is not typically, and ‘Class 1’, which is associated with nationally important carbon-rich soils, deep peat and priority peatland habitat. Class 1 areas likely to be of high conservation value (Carbon and Peatland Map).

Material assets and waste

The proposed works are necessary to resurface the worn carriageway, likely requiring binder inlay and reinstatement of road markings. Materials used will consist of:

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

Coring results at the scheme extent returned no presence of any coal tar.

Wastes are anticipated to be removed planings from the surface course, which will be treated in line with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) Position Statement WAS-G-DEF-07 (LRWA 3) and recycled in line with SEPA Guidance WAS-G-DEF-05 on End-of-Waste for Recycled Aggregates.

Any waste from the drainage works can be left within the scheme extents under SEPA Low Risk Waste Activity (LRWA) 9, ‘Depositing non-hazardous waste dredging materials from inland waters, or sustainable urban drainage systems, on land near to where the dredging takes place’.

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 A889 carriageway.

Noise and vibration

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

A search of Scotland's Noise Map returned modelled noise records for average noise levels in the day-evening-night (LDEN) within the A889 and its verges between 55 and 60Db within the scheme extents.

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

Baseline noise levels are likely to be primarily influenced by traffic travelling along the A889 carriageway. Secondary sources are derived from vehicles travelling along the local road network and day-to-day activities associated with land management within the area.

Population and human health

The scheme lies 6.5km north of the village of Dalwhinnie within the Highland Council region. There are no properties located within 300m of the scheme. There is one layby on the A889 southbound carriageway within the scheme extent. There is also one farm access track within the scheme extent, accessed via the southbound carriageway.

No cycle paths, pedestrian footways, Core Paths (Highland Council), or designated walking routes (Walk Highlands) are located within the scheme extent.

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

Transport Scotland’s manual data counter (site name: ATC01167) located 2km south from the scheme, recorded an annual daily total (ADT) of 1,206 motor vehicles in 2025, of which 8.7% were Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) (Transport Scotland).

TM will consist of overnight road closure with diversion (via A9 and A86).

Road drainage and the water environment

‘Strathnairn, Speyside and Cairngorms’ (ID: 150709) 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 SEPA under the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (WFD) (Water Classification Hub).

‘Allt Breakachy’ (ID: 23148) is a river in the Scotland river basin district and lies approximately 200m east of the scheme at its closest extent. It discharges into the River Spey SAC approximately 700m north. It was awarded an overall status of ‘moderate’ in 2024 by SEPA under the WFD 2000/60/EC (Water Classification Hub).

Several unclassified surface waterbodies which may be present within the vicinity and culverted beneath the A889.

There is no likelihood of surface water and small watercourse flooding on the A889 carriageway within the scheme extents (SEPA Flood Maps).

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).