Description of local environment
Air quality
The scheme is located along a rural section of the A92, between Stonehaven and Muchalls in Aberdeenshire. The immediate scheme extents are bordered by localised areas of vegetation and deciduous trees. Where vegetation is sparse, agricultural fields line the carriageway. Beyond this, the broader landscape is predominantly defined by agricultural land and residential developments.
There are approximately 18 residential properties, including farming residences, located within 200m of the works area. The closest property, Cortens Croft, is located 13m west of the A92 carriageway along the scheme extents. The closest farm is Blackhills Farm located 67m east of the scheme extents. There are no other sensitive air quality receptors within 200m of the works.
The primary factor affecting baseline air quality is traffic along the A92 road network, with agricultural activities contributing as a secondary source. Manual count point 91154, located approximately 1.2km north of the scheme extents along the A92, shows that in 2024, the Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) for all motor vehicles was 21,525 with 2,005 (9%) of these being Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).
Aberdeenshire Council has not declared any Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs). There are no sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) located within 1km of the scheme extents. Additionally, there are no Air Quality Monitoring Stations located within 200m of the works area.
Cultural heritage
A desk-based assessment has been undertaken using Pastmap online mapping tool. The study area covered a 300m radius for designated cultural heritage assets and a 200m radius for non-designated cultural heritage assets. Full details of designated and non-designated assets can be found in Table 1 and Table 2 below.
| Name | Reference number | Description | Distance from scheme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridge of Muchalls Over Muchalls Burn | LB9350 | Listed Building - Cat C | Approx. 65m west of the scheme extents |
| Old Schoolhouse, Bridge of Muchalls | LB9351 | Listed Building - Cat C | Approx. 210m west of the scheme extents |
| Muchalls | N/A. | Conservation Area | Approx. 23m east of the scheme extents |
| Name | Reference number | Description | Distance from scheme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackhills | NO88NE0118 | Historic Environment Record (HER) - Inscriptions, Milestones | Approx. 130m south of the scheme extents |
| Blackhills | NO89SE0058 | HER - Crofts, Dams, Ponds | Approx. 100m east of the scheme extents |
| Hillhead of Cowie | NO89SE0139 | HER - Farmsteads | Approx. 63m west of the scheme extents |
| Bridge of Muchalls, Burn of Muchalls, Bridge of Muchalls | 37129 | Canmore - Road Bridge (Period Unassigned) | Approx. 62m west of the scheme extents |
| Bridge of Muchalls | NO89SE0134 | HER - Bridges | Approx. 62m west of the scheme extents |
| Bridge of Muchalls | NO89SE0129 | HER - Smithies | Approx. 98m west of the scheme extents |
| Bridge of Muchalls, Cottages | 37132 | Canmore - Cottage(S) (Period Unassigned) | Approx. 98m west of the scheme extents |
| Muchalls, Muchalls Golf Club | 348904 | Canmore - Golf Course (20th Century) | Approx. 49m east of the scheme extents |
Landscape and visual effects
The immediate scheme extents are bordered by localised areas of vegetation and deciduous trees. Where vegetation is sparse, agricultural fields line the carriageway. Beyond this, the broader landscape is predominantly defined by agricultural land and residential developments with the North Sea located approximately 420m east of the carriageway.
Burn of Muchalls flows through the scheme extents at NGR NO 89493 91084 and Souter Head to Garron Point is located 420m east of the scheme extents.
There are no distinctive cultural landscape or historical landscape features within the scheme extents.
Scotland’s Environment Web has identified that Pityot Wood Ancient Woodland (ID: 30) is located approximately 166m west of the scheme extents.
There are no other Ancient Woodlands, National Scenic Areas (NSAs), Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) or any Gardens and Designed Landscapes located within 500m of the works area.
A search on Scotland’s Landscape Character Type (LCT) Map has highlighted that the LCT within the scheme extents, along the A92, can be categorised as the following:
- Fragmented Rocky Coast characterised by a narrow band close to the coast with steep rugged slopes and cliffs.
- Farmed Moorland Edge - Aberdeenshire characterised by upland areas and the lowland agricultural heartlands of Aberdeenshire.
Scotland’s Historic Land Use Assessment (HLA) Map has identified that the land within the scheme extents is currently being used as ‘Motorway and Major Roads’ providing links between major cities, they cover considerable areas of land. The land within the scheme extents has been historically used as ‘Rectilinear Fields and Farms’ involving the enclosure of arable land as well as the building of slate roofed farm steadings and associated buildings. There are no direct causes of historic land contamination from these works.
Visual
In the absence of adequate topographic and vegetative screening, several residential properties are expected to have direct views of the construction activities. The most affected are properties situated approximately 84m to the east, such as Joiners Cottage and Deepheather. Blackhills Farm and Hillhead of Cowie Farm will also have views of the works. No other visual receptors have been identified.
Transient visual receptors include road users (motorists, public transport users) travelling along the A92, who will experience brief and intermittent views of the scheme. Typically, the views from the carriageway are pockets of woodland, with agricultural fields in the wider area.
Biodiversity
Protected areas
A desktop study using NatureScot’s online research tool, Sitelink, has identified that the Garron Point Special Area of Conservation (SAC) (ID:8671) is located approximately 1.1km south of the scheme extents.
There are no national designations, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Local Nature Reserves or any National Nature Reserves, within 200m of the scheme extents.
No Tree Preservation Orders are located within 500m of the scheme extents.
Watercourses
Burn of Muchalls flows through the scheme extents at NGR NO 89493 91084. Souter Head to Garron Point is located 420m east of the scheme extents.
Field survey
An ecological field survey has been scoped out by a qualified ecologist due to the transient nature of the works and their containment within the trunk road boundary, indicating a low likelihood of significant ecological impact.
Invasive plants
Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) has recorded rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium), an injurious weed and Transport Scotland (TS) target species along the NB verge of the A92 carriageway within the scheme extents.
No Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) are recorded within 500m of the scheme extents.
Geology and soils
Geology
There are no Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS), Local Geodiversity Sites or any Geological SSSIs that have connectivity or are within 200m of the scheme extents as noted by NatureScot’s Sitelink.
According to Britain’s Geology Viewer, the geology along the A92, within the scheme extents, consists of the following:
Bedrock Geology
- Glen Lethnot Grit Formation - Psammite, micaceous. Metamorphic bedrock formed between 1000 and 541 million years ago between the Tonian and Ediacaran periods.
Superficial Deposits
- Banchory Till Formation - Diamicton. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago during the Quaternary period.
- Drumlithie Sand and Gravel Formation - Sand and gravel. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago during the Quaternary period.
- River Terrace Deposits - Gravel, sand, silt and clay. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 2.588 million years ago and the present during the Quaternary period.
Soils
According to Scotland’s Soil Map, the component soil within the scheme extents consists of Humus-iron podzols’ found on undulating lowlands and hills with gentle and strong slopes: non- and slightly rocky.
Land use
The national scale land capability for agriculture within the works areas consists of the following:
- 2 - Land capable of average production though high yields of barley, oats and grass can be obtained. Grass leys are common.
- 2 - Land capable of producing a wide range of crops.
There are no operational landfill sites located within 1km of the scheme extents.
Material assets and waste
Materials
Materials required are detailed within Table 3 below.
Table 3: Key Material Required for Activities
|
Activity |
Materials Required |
Sources |
|---|---|---|
|
Construction |
|
|
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 4 below.
Table 4: Key Waste Produced by Activities
|
Activity |
Waste Produced |
Disposal |
|---|---|---|
|
Construction |
|
|
The proposed scheme will require a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) should works exceed £350,000.
Noise and vibration
The scheme is located in a rural area, where the baseline noise levels are primarily influenced by traffic on the A92, with secondary sources from agricultural activities. For the AADF details, please refer to the Air Quality section above.
There are approximately 18 residential properties, including farming residence, located within 300m of the works area. The closest property, Cortens Croft, is located 13m west of the A92 carriageway along the scheme extents. The closest farm is Blackhills Farm located 67m east of the scheme extents. There are no other sensitive noise and vibration receptors within 300m of the works.
According to Scotland’s Noise Map, the noise level during daytime hours (Lday) has been recorded to be 60dB at the nearest receptor to the carriageway and approximately 72dB within the carriageway boundary. The noise level during nighttime hour (Lnight) has been recorded to be 49dB at the nearest receptor and 60dB within the carriageway boundary.
A search on Transport Scotland’s Transportation Noise Action Plan (TNAP) (2019 – 2023) has highlighted that the works are not located within or adjacent to a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA).
Population and human health
Due to the like-for-like, transient and short-term nature of the resurfacing of the works, a study area of 300m was considered appropriate to determine baseline.
The primary land use within the surrounding area is used for agricultural purposes. The closest main town providing community facilities is Newtonhill located 1.2km north of the scheme extents.
There are approximately 18 residential properties, including farming residences, located within 300m of the works area. The closest property, Cortens Croft, is located 13m west of the A92 carriageway along the scheme extents. The closest farm is Blackhills Farm located 67m east of the scheme extents. There are no key community assets within 300m of the works. There are four access/egress points located along the scheme extents of the A92, one of which is the sole access point to Hillhead of Cowie residence at NGR NO 89321 90165.
There are no Core Paths, National Cycles Network Routes or any bridleways located within 300m of the scheme extents. There are also no footways or any Public Rights of Way (PRoW) located within the scheme extents.
There are two laybys located within the scheme extents along the northbound carriageway of the A92. Streetlights border either side of the A92 carriageway within the works area.
Two bus stops are located along the scheme extents, these run routes to Aberdeen and Aberdeen Airport.
Road drainage and the water environment
Surface water
The following watercourses have been classified under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) (SEPA’s Water Classification Hub) within 500m of the scheme extents:
- Burn of Muchalls (ID: 23252) flows through the scheme extents at NGR NO 89493 91084. This watercourse has an overall moderate ecological potential.
- Souter Head to Garron Point (ID: 200518) is located 420m east of the scheme extents with an overall high ecological value.
There are three ponds located within 250m of the scheme extents, the closest being 190m east of the works area.
Drainage within the scheme extents along the A92 consists of gullies.
Flood risk
Several localised sections within the scheme extents are anticipated to have a high likelihood (10%) of surface water flooding, as indicated by SEPA’s Flood Risk Map. Burn of Muchalls is also subject to a high risk of river flooding, with the affected area extending into the scheme extents.
Groundwater
The groundwater underlying the scheme extents is classified as Portlethen groundwater (ID: 150625), which is currently designated as having an overall 'Good' quality under the WFD classification.
The works do not fall within a Scottish Government Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).
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 South West Network Management Contract (SW NMC) network by 2028. Amey have set carbon goals for the SW NMC contract as a whole to be net-zero carbon by 2032.