Description of local environment

Air quality

For 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 scheme.

There are two air quality monitoring stations located within 10km of the proposed works (Scottish Air Quality). The closest lies approximately 6km southeast from the scheme. Latest readings of the daily air quality index (DAQI) at the time of the search were recorded as being within ‘1-3 low’ band.

There is one air pollutant release site registered on the Scottish Pollution Release Inventory (SPRI) located within 10km of the scheme (Scottish Pollution Release Inventory). The site, Carbon Fibers, Muir of Ord, lies approximately 8km west from the scheme and records emissions of the pollutants ammonia (t) and hydrogen cyanide (kg).

Baseline air quality in the study area is mainly influenced by vehicles travelling along the A9 trunk road. Secondary sources are derived from rural activities associated with land management within the area.

Cultural heritage

There are no Scheduled Monuments, Garden & Designed Landscapes, Conservation Areas, Battlefields or World Heritage Sites found within 300m of the scheme extent (Pastmap).

Multiple other features of cultural heritage interest lie within 300m of the scheme. The following Listed Buildings are located closest to the scheme:

  • Category C Listed Building ‘Birchwood, Lentran Muir of Ord Greenhouse’ lies approximately 80m northeast from the A9 carriageway.
  • Category C Listed Building, ‘Arpafeelie Episcopal Parsonage’ lies approximately 180m west from the A9 carriageway.
  • Category B Listed Building, ‘Arpafeelie Episcopal Church of St John’ lies approximately 225m west from the A9 carriageway.

Several records of lesser cultural heritage importance noted on the National Records of the Historic Environment (NRHE) and Historic Environment Record (HER) databases lie within 300m of the scheme extent. Those closest to the scheme are listed below:

  • HER/NRHE – Arpafeelie hut circles and field system at the closest point lie adjacent to the A9 carriageway.
  • HER – Coille Cnoc Na H-Eireachd field system lies approximately 15m west from the A9 carriageway.
  • HER/NRHE – Glackmore Farmstead lies approximately 15m west from the A9 carriageway.
  • HER - Tore Farmstead lies approximately 40m east from the A9 carriageway.

Construction of the A9 is likely to have removed any archaeological remains that may have been present within the area. Due to the lack of cultural heritage assets within the scheme footprint, the proposed project does not carry the potential to cause direct or indirect impact to cultural or archaeological features. 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 Park (NP) or National Scenic Area (NSA) (SiteLink).

The Landscape Character Type (LCT 345) within the scheme extent is recorded as Farmed and Forested Slopes – Ross & Cromarty, which has the following key characteristics:

  • Complex pattern of farmland, tree cover, forests and woodland on sloped, often terraced land rising from firths or river plains to mid-elevations and often backed by large scale forest plantations where there are adjacent hills.
  • Overall impression of a well-treed landscape, but within which farming is the dominant land use.
  • Generally higher proportion of trees, woodland and forest plantations in upper slopes, forming a well-connected network within which fields are located.
  • Terraces of open land, interspersed with forest plantations and woodlands on mid-slopes.
  • Gradual change to more open landscapes at lower levels.
  • Wide range and distribution of archaeological sites indicating a long history of human settlement.
  • Occasional large settlements in a predominantly rural landscape.
  • Views from more open, terraced areas across lowlands or firth to hills or out to sea.

Land use (HLAmap) within 300m of the scheme extent is classified as smallholdings, plantation woodlands, rectilinear fields and farms, urban area (Tore and Arpafeelie) and motorway and major roads.

The land surrounding the trunk road is classified as 3.1 ‘Land capable of producing consistently high yields of a narrow range of crops and / or moderate yields of a wider range. Short grass leys are common’ (Scotland's Soils).

The A9 carriageway is a prominent linear landscape feature within the highland area, connecting Perth with Thurso. It commences immediately north of Inveralmond Roundabout in Perth leading generally northwards for 357 kilometres to its junction with an unclassified road leading to Holborn Head lighthouse at Scrabster. The A9 is a mixture of single carriageway, ‘2+1’ carriageway and stretches of two-lane dual carriageway. The A9 is a two-lane dual carriageway at the scheme extent.

Biodiversity

The Monadh Mor Special Area of Conservation (SAC) lies approximately 1.25km northwest from the scheme (SiteLink) (NatureScot Site Code: 8323).

The Inner Moray Firth Special Protection Area (SPA) lies approximately 2.15km south from the scheme (SiteLink) (NatureScot Site Code: 8515).

The Inner Moray Firth Ramsar (SiteLink) (NatureScot Site Code: 8430) overlaps the Inner Moray Firth SAC.

The Moray Firth SPA lies approximately 2.5km south from the scheme (SiteLink) (NatureScot Site Code: 10490).

No ecological connectivity exists between the works and Monadh Mor SAC due to the immobile nature of the qualifying habitat features and distance from the scheme. As such, no further assessment under the Habitats Regulations has been undertaken for this site. A Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) Proforma has been completed to assess the potential effects of the works on the qualifying features of the Inner Moray Firth SPA/Ramsar sites and the Moray Firth SPA. Refer to the Biodiversity Impacts and Mitigation section below.

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

Numerous records of bird species were returned on the NBN Atlas 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.

The NBN Atlas holds records of the following invasive native perennial plant (as listed in the Network Management Contract (NMC)) using the same search criteria:

  • Rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium).

Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) holds records of the following invasive native perennial plants (denoted by *) and injurious native and non-native plant species (as listed in the NMC) within 300m of the scheme:

  • Three records of rosebay willowherb* growths which have been recorded within the verges on both sides of the carriageway within the scheme extent
  • One record of giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) located on the southbound side of the carriageway within the scheme extent.

Habitat surrounding the A9 carriageway is dominated by agricultural pasture used for a mixture of grazing livestock and crop production. Pockets of woodland are also within proximity to the scheme.

One area of long-established (of plantation origin) woodland flanks the A9 carriageway within the scheme extent (Ancient Woodland Inventory).

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

Due to location within the central reservation, 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 geology (BGS Geology Viewer) within the scheme consists of:

  • Raddery Sandstone Formation – Sandstone, Devonian.
  • Kilmuir Conglomerate Formation – Conglomerate, Devonian.

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

  • Till, Devensian-Diamicton – Quaternary.
  • Glaciofluvial deposits – Gravel, sand and silt – Quaternary.

The local soil type is recorded as humus-iron podzols (Scotland's Soils).

Soils within the scheme extent are recorded as being ‘Class 0’, as displayed on Scotland’s Carbon and Peatland map. Class 0 is mineral soil, and peatland habitats are not typically found on such soils.

Material assets and waste

The proposed works are necessary to replace the central reservation VRS including the addition of VRS where there are gaps present to ensure that the A9 carriageway remains in safe condition for road users. Materials used will consist of:

  • New VRS safety barriers
  • P4 terminals
  • Concrete

Any excavated soil material from the works will be side casted within the scheme extents. Old VRS material is anticipated to be recycled.

The value of the scheme does exceed £350,000; therefore, a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is required and will be completed as part of these works.

No site compound is required for these works. Storage of plant and equipment will be within the A9 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 Transport Noise Action Plan (TNAP) 2024 to 2028.

Scottish Noise Mapping indicates average noise level during the night (LNGT) ranges between 60 and 70dB within the A9 and its associated verges (Scotland's Noise Map).

A Transport Scotland manual data counter for the A9 (Site name ATC01010) located 275m southeast from the scheme, recorded an annual daily traffic (ADT) flow of 26,952 motor vehicles in 2025, of which 16.9% were Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

Baseline noise levels are likely to be primarily influenced by traffic travelling along the A9 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

There are several residential properties and farmsteads scattered throughout the landscape within 300m of the scheme extent. There is a cluster of residential properties located on the northbound and southbound side of the carriageway on the approach to Tore roundabout. The closest property lies approximately 30m west from the A9 carriageway within the scheme extent. There is roadside verge planting present, providing a level of visual and acoustic screening between the property and the A9 carriageway.

The closest farmstead and associated outbuildings lie approximately 40m east from the A9 carriageway within the scheme extent. There is a small amount of roadside verge screening provided by the way of small shrubs and trees.

Several access routes/junctions lie on both sides of the A9 carriageway within the scheme extent. There is one layby located on the northbound and southbound side of the carriageway within the scheme extent.

There are three bus stops scattered throughout the scheme extent on the northbound side of the carriageway and one bus stop located on the southbound side of the carriageway.

Pedestrian footpaths are located only at the mentioned bus stops and surrounding laybys associated within the scheme extent.

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

National Cycle Network (NCN) route 1 (OS Maps) at its closest point is located approximately 100m northeast from the A9 carriageway within the scheme extent.

There are no walking routes listed on WalkHighlands or Core Paths in Highland Council within 300m of the scheme.

TM will consist of single lane closures (Lane 2).

Road drainage and the water environment

‘Black Isle’ (ID 150643) and ‘Munlochy Coastal’ (ID: 150749) are groundwater bodies, in the Scotland river basin district, which underlie the scheme. Both were awarded an overall status of ‘good’ in 2024 by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) under the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (WFD) (Water Classification Hub).

‘Allanglach Burn’ is a river (ID: 20155), in the Cromarty coastal catchment of the Scotland river basin district. It lies approximately 180m southeast from the A9 carriageway at the scheme extent. 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 the drainage for agricultural land. It was awarded an overall status of ‘good ecological potential’ in 2024 by SEPA under the WFD (Water Classification Hub).

Small unclassified surface waterbodies and/or culverted drainage channels may flow below and be present within proximity to the A9 carriageway within the scheme extent.

The scheme falls within an area that has no likelihood of river or coastal water flooding each year. However, intermittent sections of the A9 carriageway within the scheme extent do fall within a medium likelihood (0.5% chance) of surface water and small watercourse flooding each year (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).