Description of local environment

Air quality

The scheme is located along the A92 between Cardenden and Chapel Jct, northwest of Kirkcaldy, Fife. A thin strip of deciduous trees, shrubs, and tall grasses directly border the majority of the scheme. However, embankments border both sides of the carriageway for a section of the scheme (approximately 900m in length). The wider area consists predominantly of agricultural fields with occasional pockets of woodland and a small number of scattered properties.

There are no residential properties within 200m of the scheme extents. Furthermore, there are no non-residential sensitive air quality receptors within 200m of the scheme. Only one building lies within 200m of the scheme extents, the Home Farm View restaurant located 110m south of the carriageway.

Baseline air quality in the area is primarily influenced by traffic using the A92, with additional contributions from agricultural activities. The nearest manual count point (80086), located along the A92 620m west of the scheme, recorded an Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) of 48,463 in 2024, with 3,738 of these being Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

Fife Council have not designated any Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs). This indicates that local pollutant levels such as Nitrogen Dioxide and Particulate Matter (NO₂, PM₁₀, PM₂.₅) are currently within the acceptable limits set by the Scottish air quality objectives.

There are no sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) and no air quality monitoring stations are located within 1km of the scheme.

Cultural heritage

A desk-based assessment was undertaken using Pastmap. A study area of 300m was used for designated cultural heritage assets. There is only one designated asset with proximity to the scheme, Chapel Home Farm is a Category C Listed Building (ID: LB45457) located 255m south of the carriageway.

A study area of 200m was used for non-designated cultural heritage assets of which there are five. Please see below:

Cardenden – Flat Axe Head is a National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) (ID:358177) from the Bronze Age. It is located 65m south of the carriageway.
Carden Tower is a NRHE (ID: 52960) from the Medieval period located 180m south of the carriageway.
Sunnyside Farmstead is a NRHE (ID: 139326) located 95m north of the carriageway.
Tullylumb Plantation is a NRHE (ID: 52984) located 165m south of the carriageway.
Cardenden, Sunnyside Plantation is a NRHE (ID: 274540) located 105m north of the carriageway.

There are no World Heritage Sites, Scheduled Monuments, Battlefields, Conservation Areas, or Historic Environment Records located within proximity to the proposed scheme.

Landscape and visual effects

The scheme is located along the A92 between Cardenden and Chapel Jct, northwest of Kirkcaldy, Fife. A thin strip of deciduous trees, shrubs, and tall grasses directly border the majority of the scheme. However, embankments border both sides of the highway for a section of the scheme (approximately 900m in length). The wider area consists predominantly of agricultural fields with occasional pockets of woodland and a small number of scattered properties.

Due to the vegetation screening and the relatively rural setting of the scheme, only eight properties will have a view of the works. These properties are all located 250m south of the A92 on Glen Lyon Road. Two overbridges are also present at NT 22710 93968 and NT 24862 94588 where users may also have a view of construction works.

There are eight Core Paths located within 300m of the scheme:

R437 runs parallel to the carriageway, located 50m north at its closest point;
R434 crosses over the scheme at NT 24862 94588;
R436 crosses under the scheme at NT 22571 93896;
R490 is located 260m south of the scheme;
R438 is located 110m north of the scheme;
R441 and R425 are located 275m north of the scheme; and
R426 located 120m east of the scheme.

There are no National Cycle Network routes or Bridleways within 300m of the scheme location.

According to Scotland’s Environment Web Map, there are no National Scenic Areas (NSAs) or Gardens and Designed Landscapes located within 500m of the scheme extents. However, there are two Ancient Woodlands located within 500m:

Tullylumb/Beaton Wood (Wood ID: 34965) runs directly adjacent to the south of the scheme for approximately 640m; and
Sunnyside Plantation (Wood ID: 34959) is parallel to the scheme approximately 100m north and runs for 1.45km.

Furthermore, there is one Tree Preservation Order (TPO) (reference: C0018) located 220m south of the scheme.

Scotland’s Historic Land Use Assessment Map has highlighted that the land within the scheme has historically been used as ‘Motorway and Major Roads’. The land surrounding the scheme location has historically been used as ‘Rectilinear Fields and Farms’, ‘Plantation’, and ‘Restored Agricultural Land’.

The Scottish Landscape Character Type (LCT) Assessment Map shows the landscape within the scheme extents is Lowland Hills and Valleys (LCT 185). This LCT extends across most of Fife forming a series of low hills and valleys. The LCT is generally dominated by open arable fields and extensive areas of forestry. Towns within this LCT tend to be enclosed by low hills, however more urban and industrialised areas are present at various points.

Biodiversity

NatureScot’s Sitelink resource indicates that there are no European designated nature conservation sites i.e. Special Protection Areas (SPA), Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), or Ramsar Sites located within 2km or sharing connectivity with the scheme extents. Sitelink has also not identified the presence of any national designations such as Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) or Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) within 1km of the scheme extents.

The NBN Atlas does not have any records of Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) and target species within proximity to the scheme. Conversely, a review of Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) online mapping tool has identified multiple instances of rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium) along the verges of the A92 within the scheme extents.

The scheme area and surrounding habitats were assessed by a senior ecologist using available desktop resources, and a site visit was scoped out. This decision was based on the works being confined to the carriageway boundary and not requiring any vegetation removal or works within the verge. As a result, the works are considered to pose a low ecological risk.

Geology and soils

NatureScot’s SiteLink confirms that there are no Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS), geological SSSIs or Local Geodiversity Sites (LGS) within 500m of scheme extents. The nearest GCRS is Invertiel Quarry (ID: 9678) located 5.2km southeast of the scheme.

There are also no landfill sites within 200m of the scheme extents according to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPAs) Landfill sites and Capability Map.

The British Geology Viewer notes the soil geology within the scheme extents consists of the following:

Superficial deposits:

Till, Devensian-Diamicton. These sedimentary deposits are glacigenic in origin and were formed in the Quaternary period.
Glaciofluvial ice contact deposits-Gravel, sand and silt. These sedimentary deposits are glaciofluvial in origin and were formed during the Quaternary period.
Peat-Peat. These sedimentary deposits are lacustrine and palustrine in origin and were formed during the Quaternary period.

Bedrock geology:

Limestone Coal Formation. These sedimentary rocks are fluvial, palustrine and shallow-marine in origin and were formed during the Carboniferous period.

Scotland’s Soil Map indicates that the soil within the scheme consists of ‘Noncalcareous gleys’. Furthermore, the national scale land capability for agriculture can be classed as ‘2’, capable of producing a wide range of crops and ‘3.2’ capable of average production though high yields of barley, oats, and grass. This indicates that the ground surrounding the scheme cannot be classed as prime agricultural land.

All works are contained to the engineered layers of the existing carriageway, resulting in limited potential for disturbance to geology and soils. As such, Geology and Soils has been scoped out of requiring further assessment in line with DMRB Guidance document LA 109: Geology and Soils.

Material assets and waste

The following materials will be required for construction:

TS2010 surface course;
AC20 Bituminous binder;
AC32 Bituminous base;
Vehicle fuel;
Road marking materials;
Road studs;
Oil; and

Resurfacing will use Transport Scotland’s TS2010 warm-mix asphalt (WMA) specification with AC binder and base layers. 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.

All of the materials listed will contain a percentage of recycled material. For example, 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. The rest of the materials will come from primary sources.

The waste produced by the scheme will consist of road planings (inert bituminous materials), road markings, and studs. Following on-site coring investigations and testing, coal-tar was not identified within the surfacing of the carriageway within the scheme extent.

This scheme is in excess of £350K and therefore requires a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP).

Noise and vibration

For baseline data on the scheme’s immediate surroundings and wider context, please refer to ‘Air Quality’.

There are approximately 14 properties within 300m of the scheme extents, with the nearest situated approximately 210m south of the carriageway on Dean Park Crescent (NT 24849 94331). Due to the relatively rural setting of the surrounding area, no additional sensitive noise and vibration receptors are present within 300m.

Baseline noise and vibration in the area is primarily influenced by traffic using the A92, with additional contributions from agricultural activities. The nearest manual count point (80086), located along the A92 620m west of the scheme, recorded an AADF of 48,463 in 2024, with 3,738 of these being HGVs.

The Transportation Noise Action Plan (TNAP) 2024 to 2028 and the Agglomerations Noise Action Plan for Scotland confirms that the scheme does not lie within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) or one of Scotland’s five agglomerations (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Falkirk, and Glasgow).

According to Scotland Noise Map, existing noise levels within the scheme extents range from approximately 72dB to 80dB (Lday) during daytime hours and from 65dB to 73dB (Lnight) at night. At the nearest identified receptor, a property located 210m south of the carriageway, baseline noise levels are recorded at approximately 55dB during the day and 48dB during the night. These values provide a representative indication of current acoustic environment in the area.

Population and human health

A study area of 300m was applied, reflecting the like-for-like nature of the works and their containment to the A92 carriageway boundary.

For baseline data on the scheme’s immediate surroundings and wider context, please refer to ‘Air Quality’.

There are eight Core Paths located within 300m of the scheme:

R437 runs parallel to the carriageway, located 50m north at its closest point;
R434 crosses over the scheme at NT 24862 94588;
R436 crosses under the scheme at NT 22571 93896;
R490 is located 260m south of the scheme;
R438 is located 110m north of the scheme;
R441 and R425 are located 275m north of the scheme; and
R426 located 120m east of the scheme.

There are no National Cycle Network routes, Bridleways, or non-core paths within 300m of the scheme location.

There are no bus stops, street lighting, or access points to residential properties or community facilities within the scheme extents. However, there are two laybys present at NT 23085 94113 and NT 23802 94283. The latter being a police patrol vehicle waiting point.

Road drainage and the water environment

According to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPAs) Water Classification Hub, the closest watercourse is Den Burn (ID: 6310) which passes under the scheme at NT 22550 93885. This river has ‘Moderate’ ecological health according to the Water Framework Directive (WFD). In addition, there is an unnamed watercourse, a burn, located approximately 75m north of the carriageway. There are no further undesignated or unnamed watercourses within 500m of the works.

According to SEPA Flood Maps, Den Burn and the unnamed burn has a ‘High’ likelihood (10% annually) of flooding. However, this does not extend into the scheme extents. There is also a section of the scheme (approximately 700m) that has a ‘Medium’ (0.5% annually) of surface water flooding.

Surface water runoff along the A92, within the scheme extents, is managed via filter drains and filter stones located on either side of the carriageway. Groundwater within the scheme consists of Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy Groundwater (ID: 150645) which has an overall ‘Poor Ecological Health’ according to the WFD.

The works do not fall within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ), indicating that the concentration of nitrates in the water is not at risk of exceeding levels set by the European Commission’s Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC). Furthermore, the works do not fall within a surface Drinking Water Protected Area (DWPA). This highlights how according to the Water Environment (Drinking Water Protected Areas) (Scotland) Order 2005, there are no nearby surface water bodies that are designated for drinking water abstraction. The surface water within the scheme extents is also not intended to be used for drinking water. Consequently, there is no direct pathway for surface water pollution in the surrounding area to impact drinking waters. Importantly however, drinking water may still be abstracted from the ground under the scheme for which appropriate control measures will still be followed.

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 50% lower than baseline.
2031 - 2035: Average emissions to be 60% 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, representing for 37% nationwide, and Transport Scotland are committed to reducing their emissions by 50% by 2030. To support this, Transport Scotland’s Fourth Carbon Management Plan is committed to reaching Net Zero emissions across corporate activities by 2027. This will contribute to achieving 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 is 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.

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