Description of local environment

Air quality

The A9 is a major carriageway in Scotland, running from central Scotland within the Falkirk area to Thurso in the north. The scheme extents cover a rural stretch of the carriageway with baseline air quality likely to be influenced primarily by traffic flow along the A9, with secondary sources from surrounding agricultural activities.

Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) in 2025 along the A9 within the scheme extents (site number: 30731) was counted at 29,778 total vehicles with 2,902 (9.7%) Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

Stirling Council has not currently declared any Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs), however, Perth and Kinross has declared one AQMA, Perth AQMA declared for exceedances in particulate matter (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The scheme lies over 30km southwest of the AQMA.

There are no real-time air quality monitoring stations (Air Quality in Scotland) or any sites on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) within 1km of the scheme extents.

There are approximately five air quality-sensitive receptors located within 200m, including residential, holiday accommodation and agricultural properties. The closest receptor is a residential property located 5m from the carriageway at grid reference NN 81155 05109. Refer to the Biodiversity section below for ecological receptors.

Cultural heritage

A desktop study using PastMap has been undertaken, where an asset has been listed more than once its highest statutory designation has been recorded. This refers to designations including World Heritage Sites, Scheduled Monuments, Battlefields and Listed Buildings.

The scheme falls entirely within the boundary of a statutory heritage feature, the Battle of Sheriffmuir Battlefield (BTL17), with the inventory boundary defining the area where the main events of the battle are considered to have taken place and where associated physical remains and archaeological evidence occur or may be expected.

One other statutory cultural heritage feature is located within 300m, a Scheduled Monument, The White Stone, Standing Stone 280m WNW Of Upper Whiteston (SM5374) is located 265m southeast within agricultural land.

Historic Environment Records (HERs) and National Records of the Historic Environment (NRHE) provide local and national level information on Scotland’s historic environment. There are approximately ten located within 200m, with the following falling within the scheme extents:

  • Stirling to Crieff Military Road, Balhaldie to Greenloaning to Braco HER (Reference: MPK8269)
  • Stirling To Crieff Military Road HER (Reference: 4784.01) and NRHE (Reference: 113487) marking descriptive accounts.
  • Balhaldie HER (Reference: 5111), Balhaldie NRHE (Reference: 112013) and Balhaldie Tollhouse NRHE (Reference: 270181) located at gird reference NN 81264 05247. These records mark descriptive accounts and the former location of cultural heritage features.

Landscape and visual effects

Landscape

The scheme lies within a rural setting, characterised by grazing and arable agricultural land, woodland blocks and dispersed residential and agricultural properties. It falls within the Lowland River Valleys - Central Landscape Character Type (LCT 152), defined by settlement often closely linked to the river corridor and parallel road corridors, such as the A9 trunk road.

There are no areas of Ancient Woodland or trees designated under a Tree Preservation Order directly lining the A9 southbound carriageway along the scheme extents.

No areas designated for landscape features or quality such as Garden and Designed Landscapes are located within 500m, or visible to or from the scheme.

Visual

Numerous stationary visual receptors are identified, with varying levels of visual screening between the scheme extents. The closest is a residential property that lies 5m from the carriageway boundary with direct views toward the scheme. This property has an existing open view of the A9 trunk road, flat agricultural land and blocks of scattered woodland.

Transient receptors include road users (motorists, public transport users) travelling along the A9 and users of Walker, Cyclist and Horse-rider (WCH) routes located along the north and southbound carriageway.

Biodiversity

Protected areas

No European sites are located within 2km or have hydrological connectivity with the scheme (Sitelink).

No nationally designated sites, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) are located within 500m of the works (Sitelink).

Field survey

An ecological field survey has been scoped out by a qualified ecologist due to the transient nature of the works and containment within the carriageway boundary.

Invasive plants

Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) has recorded numerous records of giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), an invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) within 500m of the scheme extents.

Geology and soils

Geology

The underlying bedrock comprises sedimentary sandstone formations of the Dunblane Sandstone Member. Superficial deposits comprise sedimentary deposits of Devensian Till and glaciofluvial ice contact deposits of gravel, sand and silt all from the Quaternary Period (British Geological Survey Geology Viewer).

There are no Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS), Local Geodiversity Sites (LGS) or SSSIs designated for geological features are located within 200m of scheme extents (Sitelink).

The scheme falls within an area underlain by a moderately productive aquifer of the Arbuthnott-Garvock Group with sandstones, siltstones, mudstones, conglomerates and interbedded lavas (GeoIndex British Geological Survey).

Soils

The local soil type within scheme extents has not been recorded, however, works are contained to resurfacing of the carriageway with no impact on the local soils (Scotland’s Soils).

Contamination and Land use

The scheme lies within a rural area, with land use predominantly agricultural. The scheme is not located within a coal mining area as defined by the Coal Authority and Mining Remediation Authority. The closest record of a ceased mine is approximately 60m northwest (approximate grid reference NN 81593 05650 (GeoIndex British Geological Survey).

All works are confined to the engineered layers of the existing carriageway, resulting in limited potential for disturbance to geology and soils. As such, geology and soils have been scoped out of requiring further assessment in line with DMRB Guidance document LA 109: Geology and soils.

Material assets and waste

Materials

Warm-mix asphalt (WMA) will be used for the resurfacing works. Where practical, all materials will comply with Transport Scotland’s amendment to the Specification for Highway Works, Clause 908TS Warm Mix Asphalt, which sets out performance requirements for WMA mixtures. The use of WMA supports reduced energy consumption and lower carbon emissions during production while still meeting TS2010 performance requirements for durability and long‑term carriageway performance. Further detail is provided in the Climate section.

Other materials required will include road marking materials, road studs, vehicle fuel and oil.

Materials will be obtained from recycled, secondary, or re-used origin as far as practicable within the design specifications to reduce natural resource depletion and associated emissions. For example, the binder and base courses used for resurfacing will contain a percentage of recycled material.

Wastes

Coring investigations have not identified the presence of coal tar within treatment depths; therefore, wastes are anticipated to include uncontaminated carriageway planings which will primarily be recycled at a licenced facility, thereby reducing the amount sent to landfill and promoting circular economy practices.

Noise and vibration

The scheme is located within a rural area, where baseline noise levels are primarily influenced by traffic on the A9, with secondary sources from agricultural activities. For AADF details, please refer to the Air Quality section above.

Modelled day-evening-night (Lden) noise levels along the scheme range between >75 to 80dB, and night noise levels (Lnight) for the period 23:00-07:00 range from >70B to 75dB (Scotland’s Noise Map).

There are approximately ten noise-sensitive receptors (NSRs) located within 300m, including residential, holiday accommodation and agricultural properties. At the closest receptor located 5m from the carriageway (grid reference NN 81155 05109), Lnight is recorded between >55-60dB.

The works are not located within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) as defined by Round 3 (2019-2023) or Round 4 (2024-2028) of the Transportation Noise Action Plan (Road Maps) (TNAP).

Population and human health

The scheme lies within a rural area, falling within the Stirling and Perth and Kinross council areas. Seven residential properties fall within 300m of the works, the closest is 5m from the carriageway (grid reference NN 81155 05109). A few local businesses, and agricultural properties also lie within 300m. No educational, medical or religious facilities are located within 300m.

Two junctions are located within the scheme extents, with off-slips and associated turning lanes. Two laybys are located along the scheme extents, with one associated with a bus stop located at Balhaldie services. Direct access points are located along the scheme extents, providing access to businesses, agricultural land and properties and residential properties. 

Dispersed WCH routes are located along the scheme length, providing access to local facilities, rural residences, and a bus stop located along the southbound carriageway. None are designated as Core Paths or National Cycle Network routes.

Road drainage and the water environment

Surface water

No classified watercourses are located within 500m (SEPA Water Classification Hub). The following unclassified surface waters are located within 500m:

  • Geordie’s Burn is located 435m southeast of the scheme at its closest point.
  • Glassingalbeg Burn travels beneath the scheme extents (grid reference NN 81567 05546)
  • Todhill Burn travels beneath the scheme extents (grid reference NN 81279 05255)
  • The scheme lies within a largely rural, agricultural landscape with numerous surface water field drains located within 500m.

Drainage from the A9 southbound carriageway is conveyed through top-entry gullies.

The scheme does not lie within a surface water Drinking Water Protected Area (DWPA).

Groundwater

The scheme lies within the Dunblane groundwater body (ID: 150628), with a ‘Poor’ overall condition under SEPA’s 2024 classification (SEPA Water Classification Hub). This groundwater area is designated as a Drinking Water Protected Area.

The scheme does not lie within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ), designated by the Scottish Government.

The scheme falls within an area underlain by a moderately productive aquifer with locally flaggy sandstones, siltstones, mudstones and conglomerates and interbedded lavas which yield moderate amounts of groundwater (GeoIndex British Geological Survey).

Flood risk

Localised areas within the scheme extents are identified at risk of small watercourse or pluvial flooding ranging from low (0.1%) to high (10%) annual probability (SEPA Flood Maps).

The scheme is not located within a Potentially Vulnerable Area (PVA) for flood risk management within Scotland for the current cycle (2022-2028) or future (2028-2034) cycle of flood risk management planning.

Climate

Carbon Goals 

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 Scottish Carbon Budgets Amendment Regulations 2025 sets out the statutory framework for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Scotland. The prior annual and interim targets have been replaced by five-year carbon budgets, which sets limits on the amount of GHGs that can be emitted in Scotland.

The proposed carbon budgets are aligned with advice from the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) and calculated in accordance with the 2009 Act. The 2025 Regulations define the baseline years for emissions reductions as 1990 for greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, and 1995 for others such as hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulphur hexafluoride (as set out in Section 11 of the Act). The budgets are as follows:

  • 2026 - 2030: Average emissions to be 50% lower than baseline.
  • 2031 - 2035: Average emissions to be 60% lower than baseline.
  • 2036 - 2040: Average emissions to be 80% lower than baseline
  • 2041 - 2045: Average emissions to be 94% lower than baseline

These budgets are legally binding and will be supported by a new Climate Change Plan, which will outline the specific policies and actions required to meet the targets.

Transport Scotland remains committed to reducing carbon across Scotland’s transport network, this commitment is being enacted through the Mission Zero for Transport. Transport is the largest contributor to harmful climate emissions in Scotland, representing for 37% nationwide, and Transport Scotland are committed to reducing their emissions by 50% by 2030. To support this, Transport Scotland’s Fourth Carbon Management Plan is committed to reaching Net Zero emissions across corporate activities by 2027. This will contribute to achieving a legally binding target of net-zero by 2045.

Amey’s Company Wide Carbon Goal is to achieve Scope 1 and 2 net-zero carbon emissions, with a minimum of 80% absolute reduction on our emissions by 2035. Amey is aiming to be fully net-zero, including Scope 3 emissions, by 2040.

Amey are working towards a contractual commitment to have carbon neutral depots on the NE NMC network by 2028. Amey have set carbon goals for the NE NMC contract as a whole to be net-zero carbon by 2032.

Monitoring, Management and Opportunities

To support our journey towards carbon neutral and zero waste we include potential opportunities for enhancement utilising circular economy principals within assessment of material assets.

Amey (working on behalf of Transport Scotland) undertake carbon monitoring. Emissions from our activities are recorded using Transport Scotland’s Carbon Management System.

Further information identifying how Amey will obtain the above Carbon Goals can be viewed within the Carbon Management and Sustainability Plan Roadmap to net-zero: STRNMC - North East.