Description of local environment

Air quality

The scheme is situated in a rural area with dense, deciduous trees and vegetation bordering the carriageway. The broader surroundings are predominantly agricultural fields, interspersed with smaller settlements and towns along the scheme route.

Throughout the full scheme extents, there are approximately 100 residential properties located within 200m of the scheme extents, with the nearest residential properties located adjacent to the carriageway. Additionally, other sensitive air quality receptors within 200m consist of the following:

Dundee City Council – Social Work Department located 151m west.
Tealing Village Hall located approximately 179m south.

The baseline air quality is likely influenced primarily by traffic flow along the A90, with secondary sources from agricultural activities in the surrounding fields. This is supported by data from the nearest manual count point on the A90 within the scheme extents, (count point: 10980), which recorded an Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) of 20,900 vehicles in 2024, including 2,758 Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

Angus Council have not declared any Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs). Works are located within Dundee AQMA which covers the entirety of Dundee City declaring Nitrogen dioxide NO₂.

There are no sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) within 1km of all site locations along the scheme extents. Additionally, there are no Air Quality Monitoring Stations located within 200m of the scheme extents.

Cultural heritage

A desk-based assessment has been undertaken using Pastmaps to identify cultural heritage assets within the vicinity of the scheme. A study area of 300m has been used for designated cultural heritage assets, and an area of 200m area for non-designated cultural heritage assets.

The assessment found no designated sites within 300m of the scheme extents. However, non-designated cultural heritage assets within 200m are detailed in Table 1.

Table 1: Non-Designated Cultural Heritage Assets within 200m
Name	Reference Number	Description	Distance from Scheme
Tealing Airfield, Domestic Site	275773	Canmore - Building(S) (20th Century), Hut(S) (20th Century), Military Camp(S) (20th Century)	Approx. 143m south
Upper Todhills	33355	Canmore - Cist (Early Bronze Age), Flake (Flint)(Early Prehistoric)	Approx. 133m west
Upper Todhills	NO43NW0014	Historic Environment Record (HER) - Bones, Cists, Flints	Approx. 133m west
Tinkletap	NO43NW0092	HER - Farmsteads	Approx. 52m west
Tealing, Tinkletap Cottage	354310	Canmore - Bungalow (20th Century)	Approx. 130m southwest

As works are minor in nature and are all contained within the highway boundary, there will be no impact on any identified cultural heritage assets. Therefore, this aspect has been scoped out for further assessment.

Landscape and visual effects

The scheme is located in a rural area, characterised by dense, deciduous trees and vegetation along the carriageway. The wider area is predominantly agricultural, with smaller settlements and towns scattered along the scheme extents. The primary land use surrounding the scheme extents is agricultural, as evidenced by the adjacent agricultural fields to the east and west of the A90 carriageway.

According to Scotland’s Environment Web, the following landscape designations can be found within 500m of the scheme extents:

Unnamed Ancient Woodland, (ID: 21013), located adjacent to the scheme extents.
Unnamed Ancient Woodland, (ID: 21014), located approximately 236m north of the scheme extents.
Blackmuir Wood Ancient Woodland, (ID: 21017), located adjacent and within the scheme extents.

There are no National Scenic Areas (NSAs), Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) or any Gardens and Designed Landscapes within 500m of the scheme extents.

Scotland’s Historic Land Use Assessment (HLA) Map, notes that the land surrounding all site locations has previously been used for ‘Rectilinear Fields and Farms’.

A search on Scotland’s Landscape Character Type (LCT) Map has recorded that the LCT within the scheme extents can be classed as ‘309 – Dipslope Farmland’ characterised by lowland farmland, historic sites and productive agricultural farms.

The views from the carriageway are predominantly of mature trees. In areas where trees are sparse, residential properties become visible.

Due to the lack of vegetation screening along some areas of the scheme extents, several residential properties, especially those adjacent to the A90 carriageway in the towns of Inveraldie, Newbigging and the city of Dundee, will have views of the works. Additionally, some of the sporadically placed farms will also have views of the works along the A90.

Biodiversity

A desktop study using NatureScot’s online research tool, Sitelink, has not identified any European designated sites, with connectivity to or within 2km of the scheme extents. Additionally, there are no national designations, such as Sites of Special Scientific interest (SSSI), within 200m of the scheme extents.

No trees under a TPO are within 500m of the sites.

There are no Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) or target species recorded within 500m of the scheme extents as noted by the NBN Atlas.

Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) has highlighted that rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium) and common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) is located along the verge of the scheme extents.

Scotland’s Environment Web has identified three areas within 500m of the scheme extents that are listed in the Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI):

Unnamed Ancient Woodland, (ID: 21013), located adjacent to the scheme extents.
Unnamed Ancient Woodland, (ID: 21014), located approximately 236m north of the scheme extents.
Blackmuir Wood Ancient Woodland, (ID: 21017), located adjacent and within the scheme extents. Vegetation cutback will be undertaken in this woodland.

A Preliminary Ecological Walkover (PEW) has been undertaken by two Amey Ecologists on the 25^th of June 2025 due to the nature of the works, involving verge excavations and vegetation cutback.

Geology and soils

There are no Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS), Local Geodiversity Sites or any Geological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)s that have connectivity or are within 200m of the scheme extents as noted by NatureScot’s Sitelink.

Scotland’s Soil Map has highlighted that the local soil type within the scheme extents consists of ‘Brown earth’. The national scale land capability for agriculture is classed as ‘3.1’ with 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.

According to Britain’s Geology Viewer, the geology along the A90, within the scheme extents, consists of the following:

Bedrock Geology

Dundee Flagstone Formation - Mudstone and siltstone. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 419.2 and 393.3 million years ago during the Devonian period.

Superficial Deposits

Till, Devensian - Diamicton. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago during the Quaternary period.
Alluvium - Clay, silt, sand and gravel. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 11.8 thousand years ago and the present during the Quaternary period.
Glaciofluvial Ice Contact Deposits - Gravel, sand and silt. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 2.588 million years ago and the present during the Quaternary period.

Material assets and waste

The proposed scheme does not require a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) as the total value is under £350,000.

Tables 2 and 3 below outline the materials required for the scheme and waste expected to be produced during the works.

Table 2: Key Materials Required for Construction
Activity	Materials Required	Sources
Construction	· Concrete · Signs · Posts · P4 Terminals · Studs · Paint · Kerbs and tactiles	· 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, signposts should contain an element of recycled metal material.

Table 3: Key Waste Arising from Activities
Activity	Waste Produced	Disposal
Construction	· Concrete · Signs · Posts · P1 Terminals · Studs · Paint · Vegetation	· Any excavated material is to be used as backfill where possible. · All waste leaving the site will be removed from site by a licenced waste carrier. All waste documentation will be provided when requested. · All materials that can be, should be reused throughout the network. · Vegetation clear back will be removed to a licenced facility.

Noise and vibration

There are over 100 residential properties located within 300m of the scheme extents, with the closest properties situated adjacent to the carriageway throughout the works area. Other sensitive noise and vibration receptors within 300m include the following:

Dundee City Council – Social Work Department located 151m west.
Tealing Village Hall located approximately 179m south.
Fintry park (Powrie Park) is located 257m southeast.
The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) is located approximately 264m southeast.

The baseline noise level is likely influenced primarily by traffic flow along the A90, with secondary sources from agricultural activities in the surrounding fields. Data from manual count point 10980, located within the scheme extents, shows that in 2023, the AADF for all motor vehicles was 23,489 including 3,121 HGVs.

Scotland’s Noise Map has recorded that the noise level (Lday), during daytime hours, within the scheme extents ranges from approximately 59dB to 76dB. During nighttime hours, the noise level (Lngt), has been recorded to range between 59dB to 69dB.

The works do not fall within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) as highlighted by Transport Scotland’s Transportation Noise Action Plan (TNAP) (2019-2023).

Population and human health

Due to the nature of the works, an area of 300m has been investigated to determine the population and human health baseline.

The primary land use surrounding the scheme extents includes agriculture and residential properties, as evidenced by the adjoining agricultural fields and rural towns to the east and west of the A90 carriageway.

Across the full scheme extents, there are over 100 residential properties within 300m. The closest properties are situated adjacent to the carriageway throughout the works area. Additionally, sporadic agricultural properties are located within 300m along the scheme extents. Notable community assets within 300m include the following:

Dundee City Council – Social Work Department located 151m west.
Tealing Village Hall located approximately 179m south.
Fintry park (Powrie Park) is located 257m southeast.
The Scottish SPCA is located approximately 264m southeast.

Multiple access/egress points to residential properties are located within the scheme extents. Some of these points are the primary access point to the residential towns such as Newbigging and Inveraldie.

The scheme extents are part of several bus routes that travel to and from Dundee City Centre, Kirriemuir and Stracathro.

There are no Core Paths, National Cycle Network Routes or any bridleways within 300m of the scheme extents. However, there multiple footways that are located adjacent to the A90 carriageway within the scheme extents.

Streetlights border either side of the A90 carriageway within the scheme extents.

Road drainage and the water environment

There are no watercourses located within 500m or any ponds within 250m of the scheme extents. There are, however, multiple field drains surrounding the scheme extents.

Groundwater within the scheme extents consists of Sidlaw Hills groundwater, (ID: 150601), which has an overall good status.

SEPA’s Flood Risk Map has highlighted that there are some areas within the scheme extents, along the A90, which experience a medium chance if flooding. This suggests that there is a 0.5% likelihood of surface water flooding.

The works do not fall within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).

Drainage within the scheme extents, along the A90 carriageway, consists of both gullies and filter drains.

Climate

Carbon Goals

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act sets out the target and vision set by the Scottish Government for tackling and responding to climate change. The Act includes a target of reducing CO₂ emissions by 80% before 2050 (from the baseline year 1990).

The Scottish Government has since published its indicative Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to set out how it will instead reach net-zero by 2045, working to reduce emissions of all major greenhouse gases by at least 75% by 2030. By 2040, the Scottish Government is committed to reduce emissions by 90%, with the aim of reaching net-zero by 2045 at the latest.

Transport Scotland is 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. In response to the climate emergency, TS 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.

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