Description of main environmental impacts and proposed mitigation

Air quality

Construction activities associated with the proposed works have the potential to temporarily cause local air quality impacts surrounding the scheme location. Activities undertaken on site may cause dust and particulate matter to be emitted to the atmosphere and increased prolonged vehicle, plant and non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) presence. However, considering the nature and scale of the works and the following mitigation measures, the risk of significant impacts to air quality are considered to be low, and will be for the duration of the works only.

Best practice and measures as outlined in the ‘Guidance on the assessment of dust from demolition and construction (January 2024)’ published by the institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM), which includes the following mitigation relevant to this scheme will be followed:

Site layout will be planned (including plant and vehicles) so that machinery and dust causing activities are located away from receptors, as far as reasonably practicable;
Materials that have a potential to produce dust will be removed from site as soon as possible, unless being re-used on site (cover or fence stockpiles to prevent wind whipping);
Drop heights from conveyors and other loading or handling equipment will be minimised;
Vehicles entering and leaving the work area will be covered/sheeted to prevent escape of materials during transport;
Equipment will be readily available on site to clean any dry spillages, and clean up spillages as soon as reasonably practicable after the event using wet cleaning methods; and
When not in use, plant and vehicles will be switched off and there will be no idling vehicles.

Further measures to minimise emissions will also be followed, such as:

All plant and fuel-requiring equipment utilised during construction will be well maintained to minimise emissions.
Green driving techniques will be adopted, and effective route preparation and planning undertaken prior to works.

No significant air quality impacts are anticipated. Therefore, in accordance with DMRB Guidance document LA 105: Air Quality no further assessment is required.

Landscape and visual effects

There will likely be a short-term impact during the construction phase only on the landscape character and visual amenity of the site as a result of the presence of construction plant, vehicles, and TM.

There will be no significant visual change to the landscape, including the character and visual amenity of the Cairngorms National Park. There will be a small temporary visual impact during construction. The Cairngorms National Park Authority (NPA) has been notified of the works and has made no comments.

Upon completion of the works, no residual impacts are anticipated, as once complete the visual appearance will remain largely unaffected, with a renewed, improved road surface, and minorly cut back road verges being the only discernible change.

In addition, the following mitigation measures will be put in place during works:

Throughout all stages of the works, the site will be kept clean and tidy, with materials, equipment, plant and wastes appropriately stored, reducing the landscape and visual effects as much as possible.
Works will avoid encroaching on land and areas where work is not required or not permitted. This includes general works, storage of equipment/containers and parking.
If required, upon completion of the works, any damage to the local landscape will be reinstated as much as is practicable.

With the above mitigation measures in place, no significant effects are predicted on landscape and visual effects. Therefore, in accordance with DMRB Guidance document LA 107: Landscape and Visual Effects no further assessment is required.

Biodiversity

Construction activities such as using a roller wagon and paver planer to remove defects have the potential to cause a temporary adverse impact on biodiversity in the area as a result of vehicle presence and the potential for disturbance to protected species within close surroundings; and potential to pollute habitats from noise and artificial site lighting.

Siding out works will be required along the scheme extents; however, no INNS have been recorded within 500m, and furthermore no permanent (or temporary) land-take, accommodation works are required, and there is no requirement to import topsoil. As such, there is limited potential to spread or introduce INNS or injurious flowering plant species.

A HRA has been undertaken due to the potential for LSE to three European designated sites and their qualifying features. It has been assessed that the works will not result in LSE as:

The habitat area of the European Sites will not be reduced as a result of the scheme.
There will be no long-term disturbance to key species as a result of the scheme.
No habitat or species fragmentation will occur as a result of the scheme.
There will be no reduction in species density as a result of the scheme.
There will be no change in the key indicators of conservation value.
The scheme works will not reduce the ability of the designated site to cope with climate change.

Additionally, no construction activities will take place within the designated sites, and standard industry best practice will be implemented onsite throughout the construction period, including pollution prevention measures.

The following standard mitigation measures will be in place:

A ‘soft start’ will be implemented on site each day. This involves switching on plant/vehicles simultaneously as opposed to instantaneously, to ensure a gradual increase in noise for minimal disturbance.
Site lighting will be directional and aimed away from sensitive ecological receptors including trees and watercourses.
Should a protected species be encountered onsite, works will be temporarily stopped until Amey’s Environmental Team can provide advice.
Amey’s Environmental Team will be contacted if:
There are any sightings of protected species on, or within close surroundings of the active works area;
Unforeseen site clearance, or additional construction activities are required; or
INNS are found within the work area.
An Invasive Species Toolbox Talk will be delivered on site to make operatives aware of any potential INNS on site.
Plant, vehicles and materials will, as far as is reasonably practicable be contained to the carriageway and not stored on grass verges, other than that required to facilitate the siding out works. If required, reinstatement of any damaged areas will be undertaken upon completion of the scheme.

Please see Road Drainage and the Water Environment section below for further mitigation measures in relation to pollution prevention and control.

With best practice mitigation measures in place, no significant effects are predicted for biodiversity. Therefore, in accordance with DMRB Guidance document LA 108: Biodiversity no further assessment is required.

Material assets and waste

There is potential for impacts as a result of resource depletion through use and transportation of new materials; however, due to the scale and scope of works no significant impacts are anticipated for material assets and waste.

Furthermore, materials will be sourced locally where possible and the design life for the TS2010 surfacing proposed is estimated to be 20 years, thus reducing the requirement for maintenance to this section of road over this period.

A SWMP will be prepared prior to the works commencing which details how resource use and waste arising from the works will be managed throughout the scheme. This will help control and reduce the amount of waste produced. Furthermore, waste materials will primarily be recycled at a licenced facility, thereby reducing the amount sent to landfill and promoting circular economy practices. All waste will be transported by suitable licenced contractor and have a valid Waste Transfer Note (WTN).

The Contractor is responsible for the disposal of road planings, and this will be registered in accordance with a Paragraph 13(a) waste exemption issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), as described in Schedule 3 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 2011.

Road planings with coal tar will be treated as special waste. All special waste will be transported by suitably licenced contractor and be accompanied by a correctly completed special waste consignment note (SWCN) providing information about the waste source, hazardous properties and disposal/treatment facility. The SWCN will be retained for three years with the Site Manager being responsible for ensuring these are retained on site. Special waste will be segregated from general waste and other recyclables.

The following mitigation measures will be put in place:

Materials will be derived from recycled, secondary, or re-used origin as far as practicable within the design specifications to reduce natural resource depletion and associated emissions.
Waste will be stored in suitable containers and covered.
Where possible, different waste streams will be separated at the source. This includes the segregation of special waste from non-hazardous waste.
The waste hierarchy (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Dispose) will be employed throughout the construction works.

With best practice mitigation measures in place, no significant effects are predicted for Material Assets and Waste. Therefore, in accordance with DMRB Guidance document LA 110: Material Assets and Waste, no further assessment is required.

Noise and vibration

Construction activities associated with the proposed works have the potential to cause noise and vibration impacts through the use of machinery and vehicles. The works will take place during night-time working hours. This potential disturbance will likely influence NSRs adjacent to and surrounding the scheme extents, and along the proposed diversion route, therefore will likely increase noise levels from ambient night levels, however, this is not anticipated to be significant due to the scale and duration of the scheme and with mitigation measures in place.

Operationally, surrounding NSRs will benefit from improved road surfacing as a result of the scheme and improved noise levels.

The relevant Best Practicable Means outlined in British Standard (BS) 5228:2009+A1:2014 ‘Code of practice for Noise and Vibration Control on Construction and Open Sites’ will be implemented and followed in order to reduce noise and vibration disturbance. The BS provides specific detail on suitable measures for noise control in respect to construction operations; which includes:

Where reasonably practicable, quiet working methods will be employed, including use of the most suitable plant, reasonable hours of working for noisy operations, and economy and speed of operations.
Effects from noise will be kept to a minimum through the use of appropriate mufflers and silencers fitted to machinery. All exhaust silencers will be checked at regular intervals to ensure efficiency.
A ‘soft start’ will be implemented, whereby plant and equipment is started sequentially.
Electrically powered equipment will be used where feasible instead of diesel or petrol alternatives.
Regular maintenance of plant and machinery will be undertaken to prevent excessive noise from worn parts or inefficient operation.
On-site construction tasks will be programmed to be as efficient as possible, with a view to limiting noise disruption to local sensitive receptors. Where night-works are to be undertaken, the noisiest works, i.e. the noisiest works such as milling will be undertaken before 23:00 where practicable.

Furthermore, an environmental briefing on Noise and Vibration will be delivered to all site operatives prior to works commencing, a letter drop will be delivered to residents within 300m to notify them of upcoming works, timings and duration.

The Highland Council Environmental Health Team have been notified of the works.

With best practice mitigation measures in place, no significant effects are predicted for noise and vibration. Therefore, in accordance with DMRB Guidance document LA 111: Noise and Vibration and no further assessment is required.

Population and human health

During construction, activities undertaken on site will have temporary adverse impacts on local residents and vehicle travellers, and walkers, cyclists, horse riders (WCHs) as a result of construction presence, and associated noise and delays due to TM. This may include longer journey times for those travelling within the surrounding area, in particular due to the full road closure and diversion route in place.

There will be a temporary adverse impact to receptors of PRoWs due to the road restrictions and TM. This will include increased travel times to access such community facilities from nearby towns.

With the following mitigation measures in place, the risk of significant impacts on population and human health is considered to be low:

Local residents and businesses will be informed of the proposed working schedule, in particular the times and durations of the works. This will include:
Notification via a letter drop will be issued to local residents prior to commencement of the works, in particular due to night-time programming and road restrictions;
Pre-construction notice of the works and journey planning via social media and on approach to the scheme extents.
Residential access will be provided where and when required throughout the works period.
Appropriate provisions and measures will be implemented within the TM to allow the safe passage of WCH through the site, or alternative WCH routes will be implemented and advertised on approach.

With best practice mitigation measures in place, no significant effects on population and human health are predicted. Therefore, in accordance with DMRB Guidance document LA 112: Population and Human Health, no further assessment is required.

Road drainage and the water environment

During the works, there is potential for temporary impacts on the water environment. Potential changes in water quality from pollution events (either by accidental spillage of fuels or waste material or by mobilisation of these in surface water) during works could have a direct and / or indirect effect on the surrounding water environment.

The following mitigation measures will be implemented:

All operatives will be made aware of SEPA’s Guidance for Pollution Prevention (GPP)
The Contractor will implement measures to minimise the risk of debris, dust, sediment, and accidental spillages entering the road drainage system. This will be via the use of drain covers or similar to ensure full segregation of the works from the road drainage system.
All debris which has the potential to be suspended in surface water and wash into the local water environment will be cleaned from the site both during and following the works.
All site operatives will be made aware of site spillage response procedures and in the event of a spill all works associated with the spill will stop, and the incident reported. Spill kits will also be available within all site vehicles and will be replenished onsite when required.
The Amey control room will be contacted if any pollution incidences occur (24 hours, 7 days a week).
In the event of a pollution incident, SEPA will be notified immediately.
Weather reports will be monitored prior to and during the works with all construction activities temporarily halting in the event of adverse weather/flooding event. The works will only continue when it is deemed safe to do so and run-off/drainage can be adequately controlled to prevent pollution.
All storage areas (fuels, machinery, plant, materials) where required will be located/stored:
Away (>10m) from watercourses and surface water drainage systems;
Away from areas that see high vehicular movement (as far as reasonably practicable) to prevent damage by collision or extremes of weather; and
Fuels stored within a drip tray, bund or other form of secondary containment.
Amey’s Water Pollution Prevention environmental toolbox talk will be delivered to site operatives prior to works commencing.

With the above mitigation measures in place, it is anticipated that any road drainage and the water environment effects associated with the proposed works are unlikely to be significant. Therefore, in accordance with DMRB Guidance document LA 113: Road drainage and the water environment no further assessment is required.

Climate

Construction activities associated with the proposed works have the potential to cause local air quality impacts as a result of the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) through the use of vehicles and machinery, material use and production, and transportation of materials to and from site. However, by undertaking the proposed works the life of the carriageway is increased. This promotes ‘Build Less’ principles outlined within the carbon reduction hierarchy. Furthermore, the execution of timely repairs to the road surface reduces the number of future maintenance interventions and hence this leads to an overall reduction in traffic disruption, construction and material-related carbon emissions.

The following mitigation measures will be in place:

Where possible, materials and suppliers will be sourced locally to reduce GHG emissions associated with travel distance, materials movement, and waste will be removed to a local facility.
Further actions and considerations for this scheme are detailed in the above Material Assets and Waste section.

With best practice mitigation measures in place, no significant impacts are anticipated on Climate. Therefore, in accordance with DMRB Guidance document LA 114: Climate, no further assessment is required.

Vulnerability of the project to risks

The A95 carriageway within the scheme has small, localised patches identified at risk of surface water flooding. Works will be programmed as far as is reasonably practicable to avoid periods of adverse weather or heavy rainfall.

Works are contained within the carriageway boundary and thus there will be no change in vulnerability of the road to risk, or in severity of major accidents/disasters that would impact on the environment. Improvement of the road surface will enhance skid resistance, and thus overall road safety on completion of the scheme.

The vulnerability of the project to risks of major accidents and disasters is considered to be low.

Assessment cumulative effects

During construction, activities associated with the works may have minor temporary disturbances such as changes to noise and vibration and air quality. However, these impacts will be temporary in nature and are not anticipated to result in a significant cumulative effect.

The Highland Council Planning Portal has not highlighted any works or relevant proposed developments or planning applications during the proposed timescale at the location of the works.

The Scottish Road Works Commissioner’s Interactive Map has not highlighted any works or relevant proposed developments or planning applications during the proposed timescale at the location of the works.

At present, Amey’s North East programme of works has not highlighted any other works on the A95 that will be undertaken in conjunction with the scheme. Any future schemes will be programmed to consider already programmed works, and as such any effect (such as from TM arrangements and potential construction noise) will be limited.

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