Description of local environment
Air quality
The scheme is situated in a rural area of Perth and Kinross, where the surrounding landscape primarily comprises of agricultural land interspersed with small woodland patches.
There are nine residential properties within 200m of the works with the closest property, Douglaslea located approx. 18m southeast of the works.
The primary factor affecting baseline air quality is traffic along the A90 road network, with agricultural activities contributing as a secondary source.
The Average Annual Daily Flow (AADF) in 2024 for the main A90 carriageway just south of the scheme extents (site no. 10768), accounted for 34,762 vehicles, with 3,406 of these being HGVs.
Perth and Kinross Council has declared one Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) over 12km away in the city of Perth. No real-time air quality monitoring stations are present within 200m of the scheme extents.
The Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) has not identified any polluting facilities within 1km of the scheme extents.
Cultural heritage
A desktop Study using Scotland’s Environment mapping resource and Pastmap has identified the following designated culturally significant assets within 300m of the works:
- Middlebank Farmhouse Including Ancillary Building, Boundary Walls, Gatepiers and Gates (Ref- LB10955) a Category B Listed building, located approx. 140m northwest of the works.
- Middlebank, Unenclosed Settlement Ne of (Ref- SM7204) a Scheduled Monument, located approx. 120m northwest of the works.
- Inchmartine, Lodge House and Gatepiers (Ref- LB11767) a Category B Listed Building, located approx. 30m northwest of the works.
- Inchmartine, Ice House (Ref- LB11609) a Category C Listed Building, located approx. 140m northwest of the works.
It has also identified the following non-designated culturally significant assets within 200m:
- Errol, Middlebank Farmhouse (Ref- MPK14171/ 226315) a Historic Environment record (HER)/ National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE), located approx. 140m northwest of the works.
- Middlebank (Ref- MPK5252/ 30394) a HER/ NRHE located approx. 20m northwest of the works.
- Inchmartine House Standing Stone (Ref- MPK4655/ 30416) a HER/ NRHE located approx. 110m northwest of the works.
- Inchmartine House (Ref- MPK11547/ 167368) a HER/ NRHE located approx. 30m northwest of the works.
- Inchmartine House, Estate Bridge (Ref- MPK5346/ 30405) a HER/ NRHE located approx. 130m northwest of the works.
- Inchmartine House, Icehouse (Ref- MPK14015/ 226451) a HER/ NRHE located approx. 140m northwest of the works.
- Westown Milestone (Ref- 226622) a NRHE located approx. 50m west of the works.
All works will be located within the existing carriageway boundary and will not impact any areas of land that have not previously been subjected to engineering activity.
It has been determined that the proposed scheme does not carry the potential to cause direct or indirect impact to cultural heritage. As such, impact has been assessed as being ‘no change’ and cultural heritage has therefore been scoped out of further assessment.
Landscape and visual effects
Landscape
The area surrounding the A90 carriageway within the scheme extents consists of sporadic residential properties, small areas of dense vegetation in the form of mature trees and scrub and large areas of farmland. The wider surrounding landscape is predominantly characterised by farmland.
There are no distinctive cultural landscape or historical landscape features within the scheme extents.
There are no National Scenic Areas (NSAs) or Garden and Designed Landscapes (GDLs) identified within 500m of the scheme extents (Scotland’s Environment Mapping Resource) or visible from or within the proposed works.
There are no Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) within 500m of the works.
Scotland’s Landscape Character Type Map lists the landscape character type present within the scheme extents to be that of ‘Firth Lowlands’ characterised by the following:
- Predominantly flat, fertile area.
- Enclosed by the abrupt change of slope to the steep Sidlaws escarpment to the north and emphasising the overriding horizontal landscape character by the flat plain of the Firth of Tay to the south.
- Estuarine reed-beds and mudflats creating a softer natural fringe to River sides, which contrasts with the intensively managed adjacent geometric mosaic of fields.
- Large rectangular fields of intensively farmed arable crops.
- Decaying structure of hedges and hedgerow trees which has increased the openness of the landscape.
- Well-settled, with settlement typically on break of slope dry sites such as at Longforgan, and subtly raised ‘island’ sites within the Carse. New housing which
extends beyond the historical settlement boundary is significantly visible in the landscape creating prominent suburban edges widely visible across the Carse, such as at Inchture and Longforgan.
- Urban influences including main roads (with some upgraded junctions which are prominent features in the level Carse), main east coast railway line and pylon lines which are highly visible with a repetition of towers in straight lines cutting through the flat landscape.
- Views north to Braes of Gowrie, and south across River Tay, which reads as a thin band due to foreshortened views, to Fife.
Scotland’s Historic Land-Use Map lists the land surrounding the scheme extents as rectilinear farms and fields.
Visual
Residential properties which will have view of the works, include the following:
- House number 2, located approx. 40m northwest of the works at the southern scheme extent.
- The 5 residential properties at Middlebank Holdings, all located within 30m of the southbound side of the carriageway.
- The two residential properties at Middlebank Farm, located approx. 110m north of the works.
Transient visual receptors include road users (motorists, public transport users) travelling along the A90, who will experience brief and intermittent views of the scheme.
Biodiversity
The area surrounding the A90 carriageway within the scheme extents consists of sporadic residential properties, small areas of dense vegetation in the form of mature trees and scrub and large areas of farmland. The wider surrounding landscape is predominantly characterised by farmland.
NatureScot’s Sitelink has identified the Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary Special Protection Area (SPA), Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Ramsar, located approx. 3.35km southeast at its closest point. The proposed works area is hydrologically connected to the designated sites via Bogmill Pow which discharges into Powgavie Burn, ultimately flowing into the Firth of Tay. A Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) has been undertaken for these sites.
The NBN Atlas resource has not identified the presence of any Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) or Transport Scotland Target Species within 500m of the scheme extents. The Amey Environment NE INNS Map resource has also not recorded the presence of any INNS within 500m but has however, identified the following Transport Scotland Target Species within the verges of the A9 carriageway within the scheme extents:
- Rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium); and
- Common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris).
A competent senior ecologist has reviewed the scheme and the surrounding habitat using desktop resources, and a site visit was subsequently scoped out. This was concluded due to the transient nature of the works and their confinement within the carriageway boundary.
Geology and soils
The scheme extents are not located within 200m of any Geological Conservation Review sites (GCRs), or SSSIs designated for their geological significance (NatureScot’s Sitelink).
The National Soil Map of Scotland lists the soil present within the scheme extents to be Brown Soils. This resource states the surrounding land to be a ‘2’ with regard to the Land Classification for Agriculture- Land capable of producing a wide range of crops.
- Glenvale Sandstone Formation-Sandstone. These sedimentary rocks are fluvial in origin. They are detrital, ranging from coarse- to fine-grained and form beds and lenses of deposits reflecting the channels, floodplains and levees of a river or estuary (if in a coastal setting).
- Raised Tidal Flat Deposits Of Holocene Age-Silt and clay. These sedimentary deposits are shallow-marine in origin. They are detrital, generally coarse-grained forming beaches and bars in a coastal setting.
Material assets and waste
Materials
Materials required are detailed within Table 1 below.
Table 1: Key Material Required for Activities
|
Activity |
Materials Required |
Sources |
|
Construction |
· TS2010 surface course · AC20 bituminous binder · AC32 bituminous base · Fuels and oils · Road paint · Road studs |
· TS2010 Surface Course allows a wider array of aggregate sources to be considered when compared to typical Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA). As a result, the use of TS2010 will reduce the usage of imported aggregates and increase the use of a wider range of sustainable aggregate sources. · A proportion of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) is used in asphalt production. Typical RAP values for base and binder are 10% -15% with up to 10% in surface course. · Some material may be derived from primary resources, such as the road paint. |
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
There is a possibility that coal tar may be found during investigation stages. Anticipated wastes from the proposed works are listed in Table 2 below.
Table 2: Key Waste Produced by Activities
|
Activity |
Waste Produced |
Disposal |
|
Construction |
· Asphalt planings · Road paint · Road studs · Possibility of coal tar |
· All waste will be disposed of following regulations of the Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (EASR). · However, where planings meet SEPA’s criteria, they will be fully recycled. · Any coal tar road planings will be treated as special waste. |
A Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) 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 is required due to the scheme exceeding £350,000 in value and will help control and reduce the amount of waste produced, resulting in less landfilled waste.
Noise and vibration
Baseline noise and vibration levels are likely to be influenced by vehicle traffic from the A90 carriageway and surrounding residential and agricultural activities. The AADF in 2024 for the main A90 carriageway just south of the scheme extents (site no. 10768), accounted for 34,762 vehicles, with 3,406 of these being HGVs.
There are approx. 20 residential properties within 300m of the works with the closest property, Douglaslea located approx. 18m southeast of the works.
There are no other Noise Sensitive Receptors (NSR) within 300m of the works.
Scotland’s Noise Map has indicated modelled night-time noise levels (Lnight) in the areas surrounding the carriageway to be around 60-65 dB within 70m.
The scheme is not located within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) as defined within the Transportation Noise Action Plan.
Population and human health
The A90 carriageway within this section lies just south of Inchture in Perth and Kinross, forming part of the main strategic trunk route between Perth and Dundee. This stretch of the A90 passes through a predominantly agricultural landscape and serves as a key east–west corridor linking communities such as Longforgan, Errol and Inchture with major urban centres including Dundee and Perth. Inchture itself provides local services and amenities for nearby rural settlements, while a broader range of employment opportunities, facilities and transport connections are readily accessible in larger centres such as Dundee and Perth.
There are approx. 40 residential properties within 500m of the works with the closest property, Douglaslea located approx. 18m southeast of the works.
Go Golf Driving Range is located approx. 80m southeast of the works.
South Valleyfield Certificated Site Camping and Caravanning Club is located approx. 440m west of the works.
Single access points to fields and private properties are present within the scheme extents.
There are no National Cycles Network Routes or Core Paths within 500m of the scheme extents.
Road drainage and the water environment
SEPA’s Water Classification Hub has identified Grange Pow (ID: 64020) River, located approx. 460m south of the works. This water has been an overall classification of ‘Moderate’ ecological potential.
Bogmill Pow is culverted directly beneath the A90 carriageway within the scheme extents.
SEPA’s Flood Map has identified a number of small areas at ‘High’ risk (10% chance each year) of surface water flooding throughout the scheme.
The A90 carriageway within the proposed scheme extents is located within the Strathmore and Fife (including Finavon) Scottish Government Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ). NVZs are areas designated as being at risk from agricultural nitrate pollution. Areas such as the Strathmore and Fife (including Finavon) NVZ either result or would likely result in a concentration equal or exceeding 50mg/l of nitrates in either surface or groundwater as a result of agriculture.
Climate
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 GHGs 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 North East Network Management Contract (NE NMC) network by 2028. Amey has set carbon goals for the NE NMC contract as a whole to be net-zero carbon by 2032.