Description of local environment

Air quality

The scheme is located within the rural setting of Aberdeenshire with the surrounding landscape consisting mainly of areas of agricultural industry/holdings and small areas of woodland with the town of Laurencekirk to the west.

There are approx. 30 residential properties within 200m of the works with the closest properties located on Kirkburn Road approx. 90m northwest.

The following community facilities/business of note have been identified within 500m:

  • Laurencekirk Cemetery is located approx. 15m northwest.
  • Laurencekirk Primary School is located approx. 200m northwest of the works.
  • A play space is located approx. 130m northwest of the works.

Baseline air quality is likely influenced primarily by traffic along the A90 road network, with agricultural activities contributing as a secondary source. The Average Annual Daily Flow (AADF) in 2024 for the A90 carriageway located just outside the scheme extents (site no. 80048), accounted for 17,215 vehicles, with 2,399 of these being Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV).

Aberdeenshire Council has not declared any Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA). There are no real-time air quality monitoring stations 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 one designated culturally significant asset within 300m of the scheme extents which is the Johnston Lodge - Beattie Lodge Category B Listed Building (Ref- LB37234), located approx. 120m northwest of the works.

These resources have also identified the following non-designated culturally significant assets within 100m:

  • Conveth Mains (Ref- NO77SW0068) Historic Environment Record (HER) located approx. 120m northwest.
  • Keilburn (Ref- NO77SW0152) HER, located approx. 100m northeast.
  • Conveth (Ref- NO77SW0178) HER, located approx. 85m north.
  • Laurencekirk (Ref- NO77SW0177) HER, located approx. 30m north.
  • Conveth Mains (Ref- NO77SW0065) HER, located approx. 10m west.
  • Laurencekirk Cemetery (Ref- NO77SW0174) HER, located approx. 15m northwest.
  • Beattie Lodge (Ref- NO77SW0024) HER, located adjacent to the SB carriageway at NGR- NO 71827 70729.

Landscape and visual effects

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, scrub and large areas of farmland. The mature trees and scrub provide a small area of screening from the A90 carriageway and the residential properties within the town of Laurencekirk.  Aberdeenshire Council Core Path ID-ECPP (entitled ‘Laurencekirk: Beattie Lodge’) is located approx. 160m northwest of the works but will not have view of the works.

There are no National Scenic Areas (NSAs) or Garden and Designed Landscapes (GDLs) identified within 300m of the scheme extents (Scotland’s Environment Mapping Resource) or visible from or within the works.

Scotland’s Landscape Character Type Map lists the landscape character type present within the scheme extents to be ‘Broad Valley Lowlands - Aberdeenshire’ and can be categorised as the following:

  • A broad and generally gently undulating strath with some flatter basins.
  • Steep scarp of the Mounth uplands rising steeply to the north-west and low rounded ridge of Garvock Hill provides a lesser degree of containment along the south-eastern boundary.
  • Predominantly intensive agriculture with distinctive patchwork of large open fields divided by ditches and fences interspersed with small conifer woodlands.
  • More folded terrain at the foot of The Mounth uplands, with a number of small
  • rounded hills and small incised valleys, supporting diverse policy woodlands and well-managed farmland.
  • Mature beech woodlands and avenues with stone walls associated with estates at the base of slopes.
  • Pockets of rowan and birch woodland along watercourses stand out within this expansive plain.
  • Small traditional villages and numerous farms, constructed of warm red stone, dotted throughout the countryside.
  • Landscape forms a major communications corridor accommodating the A90, the East Coast railway and transmission line.
  • Striking contrast of open, expansive strath and adjacent uplands.

Scotland’s Historic Land-Use Map lists the land directly surrounding the scheme extents as rectilinear farms and fields with small areas of managed woodland, urban and a cemetery.

There are a number of single point Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) located within the town of Laurencekirk approx. 400m west of the works. There is also a TPO polygon located approx. 100m west.

Visual receptors of the works include users of the M90 carriageway and residential properties located on Kirkburn Street.

Biodiversity

The A90 carriageway verge within the scheme extents contains sporadic areas of dense, mature woodland and vegetation separating the carriageway from residential properties and agricultural land. Scotland’s Ancient Woodland Inventory has identified three areas of ancient woodland within 500m of the work, which are:

  • (ID: 22179) which is an area of Long-Established (of plantation origin) ancient woodland located on both sides of the carriageway at NGR- NO 71298 70389;
  • (ID: 21843) which is an area of Long-Established (of plantation origin) ancient woodland located on both sides of the carriageway at the southern scheme extent;
  • Denlethen Wood (ID: 22175) which is an area of Long-Established (of plantation origin) ancient woodland located approx. 450m west.

NatureScot’s Sitelink has not identified any European designated sites within 2km of the works or further with hydrological connectivity. It has also not identified any nationally designated sites within 200m of the works.

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 not recorded the presence of any INNS within 500m also.

Field survey

As works will be undertaken within the carriageway verges, a field survey was deemed appropriate and was undertaken by two Amey Ecologists on 8th and 9th December 2025.

Geology and soils

The scheme is not located within 200m of any Geological Conservation Review sites (GCRs), or Site of Special Scientific Interest (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 that of 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.

Bedrock Geology:

  • Cromlix Mudstone Formation - Mudstone. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 407.6 and 393.3 million years ago during the Devonian period.

Superficial Deposits:

  • Superficial deposits - Mill of Forest Till Formation - Diamicton. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago during the Quaternary period.

Material assets and waste

Materials

Materials required are detailed within Table 1 below.

Construction

Materials Required
  • Filter material;
  • PVC pipes;
  • Pre-cast concrete manholes;
  • Site mixed concrete;
  • Vehicle fuel;
  • Lubricant; and
  • Oil.
Sources
  • Primary sources.
  • New metal components will contain a percentage of recycled content, with exact percentages dependent on supplier.
  • Filter stone will contain a percentage of recycled content from previous schemes.
  • Any excavated material will be reused as backfill where possible.
  • A concrete mix using cement replacement will be used.

Waste

Construction

Waste produced
  • Vitrified clay pipes;
  • Silted Type B filter material;
  • Verge material; and
  • Cast iron manhole covers.
Disposal
  • All waste will be disposed of in accordance with the Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (EASR).
  • Any excess excavated material taken off site can potentially be used for future schemes. Where possible all materials will be reused throughout the network, if not possible they will be recycled locally.

A Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) will not be required for these works as they will be under £350,000.

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 A90 carriageway, within the scheme extents (estimated count point ID: 80048), accounted for 17,215 vehicles, with 2,399 of these being HGVs.

There are approx. 80 residential properties within 300m of the works with the closest properties located on Kirkburn Road approx. 90m northwest.

The following community facilities/business of note have been identified within 500m:

  • Laurencekirk Cemetery is located approx. 15m northwest.
  • Laurencekirk Primary School is located approx. 200m northwest of the works.
  • A play space is located approx. 130m northwest 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 the scheme extents is located just outside the settlement of Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire, forming part of the main strategic trunk route between Dundee and Aberdeen. This inland section of the A90 passes through the Mearns area and serves as a key north–south corridor linking communities such as Forfar, Stonehaven and Laurencekirk with major urban centres including Dundee and Aberdeen. Laurencekirk itself lies approximately 40 km south of Aberdeen and provides local services and amenities, while a wider range of facilities, employment opportunities and transport connections are accessible in larger centres such as Aberdeen and Dundee.

There are approx. 150 residential properties within 500m of the works with the closest properties located on Kirkburn Road approx. 90m northwest.

The following community facilities/business of note have been identified within 500m:

  • Laurencekirk Cemetery is located approx. 15m northwest.
  • Laurencekirk Primary School is located approx. 200m northwest of the works.
  • A play space is located approx. 130m northwest of the works.
  • Burnside Care Home is located approx. 310m west of the works.
  • There are a number of farms and farmland within 500m of the works.

There are no pedestrian footways within the scheme extents.

The A90 carriageway within the scheme extents is not street-lit and contains no bus stops but does contain one layby on the southbound side of the carriageway within the scheme extents. Access to Burnside house is located on the southbound side of the carriageway within the scheme extents.

Aberdeenshire Council Core Path ID- ECPP (entitled ‘Laurencekirk: Beattie Lodge’) is located approx. 150m northwest of the works.

There are no National Cycles Network Routes within 500m of the scheme extents.

Road drainage and the water environment

SEPA’s Water Classification Hub has not identified any watercourses classified under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) within 500m of the works.

A small unnamed (unclassified) stream, Kirk Burn is culverted under the A90 carriageway within the scheme extents at NGR NO 72183 71130.

A small unnamed (unclassified) stream is located within 500m of the northern end of the scheme.

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 scheme is located within the Laurencekirk Groundwater body (ID: 150653) which has ‘Good’ overall condition according to the WFD.

Drainage for the carriageway at this location is utilised in the form of filter drains and top entry gullies.

The A90 carriageway within the 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 have set carbon goals for the NE NMC contract as a whole to be net-zero carbon by 2032.