Description of local environment

Air quality

The scheme extents cover a largely rural stretch of the A90 carriageway west of Dundee between Invergowrie and Longforgan within Perth and Kinross. Baseline air quality surrounding the scheme extents is likely to be influenced primarily by traffic flow along the A90, with secondary sources from agricultural activities. Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) along the A90 within the scheme extents (site number: 30774) was counted at 40,353 total vehicles, with 3,637 (9%) Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

Perth & Kinross Council have declared two Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs), Perth City and Crieff High Street for exceedances in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulates (PM10). These AQMAs are located over 20km from the scheme extents. There are no air quality monitoring stations (Air Quality in Scotland) or any sites on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) located within 1km of the scheme extents.

The scheme extents are located just out with the Dundee City AQMA, located approximately 15m north of the southbound carriageway. This AQMA encompasses the whole of the city declared for exceedances of annual NO2 objectives in various areas across the city.

There are 13 air quality-sensitive receptors, comprising residential and agricultural holdings, business/recreational facilities, located within 200m and located sporadically along the A90 carriageway. The closest receptors are situated immediately adjacent to the southbound carriageway, approximately 5m from the scheme extents.

Cultural heritage

A desktop study using Historic Scotland Designations and Scotland’s Environment Web has identified one designated cultural heritage feature within 300m of the scheme extents, the Scheduled Monument Mylnefield, souterrains 290m and 385m E, (Reference: SM6468) located 175m south of the scheme extents within rolling arable land.

No Listed Buildings, World Heritage Sites or Inventory Battlefields are recorded within 300m of the scheme extents.

Two non-designated records have been identified within 200m of the scheme extents:

  • Mylnefield Canmore (Reference: 32014) located 160m southeast at NGR NO 3392 3039.
  • Longforgan, Mylnefield Estate, Lodge (Reference: 365710) located 15m south at NGR NO 33541 30462.

Landscape and visual effects

Landscape

The scheme is located within a largely rural area, with the surrounding landscape consisting of grazing and arable agricultural land and sporadic residential and agricultural properties. No statutory or non-statutory landscape designations are located within 500m, or with a view to or from the scheme extents (Sitelink).

The scheme is located within the Firth Lowlands Landscape Character Type (LCT 385). This area is characterised by predominantly flat and fertile land, with large rectangular fields of farmed arable crops and urban influences such as main roads (i.e. A90) cutting through the landscape.

No Tree Preservation Orders are located within 500m of the scheme extents.

Two unnamed areas of long-established (of plantation origin) woodland classified under the Ancient Woodland Inventory are within 500m of the scheme extents, located approximately 50m north and south of the carriageway boundary.

Visual

Visual receptors of the scheme include:

  • Residential receptors along the A90 carriageway, some of which have partial visual screening from vegetation; however, others have direct sight of the scheme and are located approximately 5m from the carriageway.
  • Walker, Cyclist, Horse-rider (WCH) users of the Core Path (INGI/110 A90 footway, Main Street at TA Centre to Mylnefield Gardens access road) that travels along the A90 parallel to the scheme extents.
  • Road users (motorists, public transport users) of the A90; however, such receptors are transient in nature.

Biodiversity

Protected areas

The Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Ramsar, and Special Protection Area (SPA) is located approximately 1.2km south of the scheme extents. There is no direct hydrological connectivity between the scheme and the designated site.

The Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrews Bay Complex SPA is located approximately 9.8km east of the scheme extents. While the site is hydrologically connected to the Firth of Tay, there is no direct hydrological connection between the scheme and any European designed site. The SPA comprises a section of the River Tay estuary and North Sea (Sitelink).

There are no locally, or nationally designated biodiversity sites located within 300m of the scheme (such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), or National Nature Reserves) (Sitelink).

No Tree Preservation Orders are located within 500m of the scheme extents.

Two unnamed areas of long-established (of plantation origin) woodland classified under the Ancient Woodland Inventory are within 500m of the scheme extents, located approximately 50m north and south of the carriageway boundary.

Due to the transient nature of the works and containment within the trunk road boundary an ecological field survey has been scoped out by a qualified ecologist.

Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) has not recorded any invasive or injurious species within 500m of the scheme extents. Common ragwort, an injurious weed and Transport Scotland Target species is recorded 240m east of the scheme extents, just prior to Bullionfield Filling Station.

Geology and soils

Geology

There are no Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS), or geological SSSIs located within 300m (Sitelink).

Bedrock geology is recorded as (British Geological Survey Geology Viewer):

  • Sedimentary bedrock of the Dundee Flagstone Formation (sandstone, siltstone and mudstone) formed between 419.2 and 393.3 million years ago (Mya) during the Devonian period.

Superficial deposits are recorded as:

  • Sedimentary superficial deposits of till, Devensian (Diamicton) formed between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago during the Quaternary period.

Soils

The local soil type within scheme extents is recorded as brown earths (Scotland’s Soils).

Material assets and waste

Materials

Materials required are as follows:

  • Surfacing, binder and base materials (TS2010 aggregate, AC20 Binder and AC32 Base)
  • Road marking materials/paint
  • Road studs.

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

Wastes are anticipated to be carriageway planings which will primarily be recycled at a licenced facility, thereby reducing the amount sent to landfill and promoting circular economy practices. Coal tar was recorded within the scheme extents following coring investigations; however, it is below treatment depth and therefore no special waste will be produced.

A Site Waste Management Plan will be prepared prior to the works which will detail how resource use and waste arising from the works will be managed throughout the scheme. This will help control and reduce the amount of waste produced, resulting in less landfilled waste. 

Noise and vibration

The scheme extents cover a largely rural area with baseline noise levels likely to be influenced primarily by traffic flow along the A90, and secondary sources from agricultural activities. For AADF details, please refer to the Air Quality section above.

There are approximately 16 noise-sensitive receptors (NSRs) located within 300m, comprising residential and agricultural holdings, business/recreational facilities (caravan park, farm shop and filling station). The closest receptors are situated immediately adjacent to the southbound carriageway, approximately 5m from the scheme extents.

Modelled day-evening-night (Lden) noise levels along the scheme extents is >70 to 75dB. Lden is a noise indicator for overall annoyance based upon annual average A-weighted long-term sound over 24 hours, with a 5 dB(A) penalty for evening noise (19:00-23:00) and a 10 dB(A) penalty for night-time noise (23:00-07:00). Modelled night noise levels (Lnight) for the period 23:00-07:00 is >60 to 65dB (Scotland’s Noise Map).

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

Population and human health

There are approximately 14 residential receptors located within 300m, the closest receptors are situated immediately adjacent to the southbound carriageway, approximately 5m from the scheme extents. Access/egress to numerous private properties, housing and agricultural holdings is within the scheme extents.

No educational, religious, or healthcare land or assets are located within 300m of the scheme extents. However, recreational and business facilities are found within 300m including Arbuckles Farm Shop, a filling station and a caravan park. Access to these facilities is along the A90 northbound carriageway and therefore not within the scheme extents.

The Core Path (INGI/110) A90 footway, Main Street at TA Centre to Mylnefield Gardens access road travels along the A90 parallel to the scheme extents.

No land take (private property, agricultural land, business land, or community land) is required as all works will be contained to the carriageway boundary.

Road drainage and the water environment

Surface water

Road drainage along the scheme extents is in the form of filter drainage and gullies.

No watercourses are located within 500m of the scheme extents, including statutory main rivers designated under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) (SEPA Water Classification Hub).

Groundwater

The scheme is located within the Dundee groundwater body (ID: 150624) with a good overall condition under the WFD (SEPA Water Classification Hub).

The scheme is located within the Strathmore, Fife and Angus Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).

Flood risk

No areas of the A90 carriageway within the scheme extents have been identified at risk of pluvial or fluvial flooding (SEPA’s Flood Map).

Climate

Carbon Goals 

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, as amended by the 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 57% lower than baseline.
  • 2031 - 2035: Average emissions to be 69% 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, and Transport Scotland are committed to reducing their emissions by 75% by 2030 and to 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. 

Policies and Plans 

This Record of Determination (RoD) has been undertaken in accordance with Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (RSA EIA Regulations) along with Transport Scotland’s Environmental Impact Assessment Guidance (Guidance – Environmental Impact Assessments for road projects (transport.gov.scot)). Relevant guidance, policies and plans accompanied with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB)) LA 101 and LA 104 were used to form this assessment.