Description of Local Enviroment

Air Quality

The scheme is in a rural location with large areas of trees and agricultural land. There are approximately five residential properties within 200m. The closest property, The Bungalow, Drumine, is approximately 80m southeast of the southern extent of the works.

The baseline air quality is likely to be influenced by the traffic flow on the A96.

In 2023, the Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) for all vehicles on the A96 where works are to be undertaken (manual count point: 10785) was 15,417 with 1,492 of those being Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

The scheme is not located in an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).

There are no sites registered on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) within 1km of the scheme.

Cultural Heritage

A desk-based assessment was undertaken using Pastmap and Scotland’s Environment Map. A study area of 300m was used for designated cultural heritage assets and an area of 200m was used for non-designated cultural heritage assets.

No designated assets have been identified within the study area.

The following non-designated sites have been identified within the 200m study area:

  • Drumine Farm Steading Historical Environmental Record (Ref: MHG25363) and Canmore (Ref: 99230);
  • Drumine Ring Ditch HER (Ref: MHG3034) and Canmore (Ref: 14413);
  • Possible Corn-Drying Kiln, Tirfogrein (Ref: MHG17495) and Canmore (Ref; 8541);
  • Bronze Age Flanged Axe Head, Brackley Ref: MHG22830) and Canmore (Ref: 15244); and,
  • Brackley Farm Steading Ref: MHG20560) and Canmore (Ref: 99050).

The scheme will be restricted to the carriageway boundary and views of and from the road will be temporarily impacted by the presence of TM, plant and vehicles during construction. This is predicted to be a slight temporary impact locally, with no permanent change to views or cultural heritage as a whole following the completion of works. As such, impact to cultural heritage has been assessed as being ‘no change’ and has been scoped out of requiring further assessment and is not discussed further within the RoD.

Landscape and Visual Effects

There are approximately seven properties that have a view of the carriageway. Views from the carriageway is primarily made up of surrounding farmland, trees and shrub.

Scotland’s Environment Map notes there are no landscape designations within 500m of the scheme such as Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), Wild Land Areas, National Scenic Areas, Garden & Designed Landscapes or ancient woodland.

The Historic Land-use Assessment (HLA) Map notes the scheme is within an area of roads and is surrounded by areas of rectilinear fields and farms.

The Landscape Character Type (LCT) Map notes that the scheme is within LCT 284 – Coastal Farmlands - Moray & Nairn which contains a variety of different character including, uplands, extensive moorlands rolling hills and plateaux.

Views of, and from the road will be temporarily affected during construction due to the presence of works, traffic management and plant. As the works are minor and operating on a like-for-like basis and will be restricted to the existing carriageway boundary/bridge, no permanent changes to landscape features are predicted, therefore has been scoped out for further assessment and is not discussed further with the RoD.

Biodiversity

A desktop study using NatureScot’s Sitelink resource has identified the presence of the following single designated European site within 2km of the scheme extents:

Loch Flemington Special Protection Area (SPA) is located approximately 650m southeast of the northern extent of the works.

This resource has not identified the presence of national designations (such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or Local Nature Reserves) within 1km of the scheme extents. The scheme is not hydrologically linked any European or nationally designated sites, however due to the identification of a designated European Site within 2km a Habitat Regulations Appraisal has been undertaken.

The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas has highlighted the following Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) located within 1km of the scheme:

  • Rosebay willow herb (Chamerion augustifolium)

It is considered unlikely that any terrestrial mammal species of conservation importance are associated with permanent habitat or resting places within the area of likely construction disturbance. In addition, the nature of the scheme is contained within the carriageway boundary involving like-for-like works within already engineered layers and as such a field survey has been ruled out, and a desktop study has been deemed sufficient for this assessment.

Geology and Soils

According to Scotland Soil Map, the component soils within the scheme extents are humus-iron podzols.

A desk-based study using Geology Viewer has highlighted that the geology within the scheme extents consists of the following:

Superficial deposits - Alturlie Gravels Formation - Sand and gravel. Sedimentary superficial deposit formed between 116 and 11.8 thousand years ago during the Quaternary period.

Bedrock geology - Hillhead Sandstone Formation - Sandstone. Sedimentary bedrock formed between 393.3 and 387.7 million years ago during the Devonian period.

Sitelink notes that there are no Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS) or Local Geodiversity Sites (LGS) located within 200m of the scheme extents.

As the works will be restricted to the existing carriageway boundary and previously engineered layers, it has been determined that the proposed project does not carry the potential to cause direct or indirect impact to geology or soils. As such, impact has been assessed as being ‘no change’ and has been scoped out of requiring further assessment.

Material Assets and Waste

The proposed works are necessary to repair defects and deterioration of a section of the A96. Tables 1 and 2 below describes the materials required and likely waste produced from the works.

The proposed works will require a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP)

Table 1: Key Materials Required for Activities

Activity

Material Required

Origin/ Content

Site construction

· TS2010 surface course

· AC20 bituminous binder

· AC32 bituminous base

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.

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.

Table 2: Key wastes arising from activities.

Activity

Waste Arising

Disposal/ Regulation

Site construction

· Road planings

On-site investigations of the carriageway (including coring and testing) have yet to be undertaken.

Any tar-contaminated planings (if produced) will require removal off site for treatment/disposal at a licenced waste facility.

Uncontaminated road planings generated as a result of the required works, will be fully recycled in accordance with the criteria stipulated within SEPA document ‘Guidance on the Production of Fully Recoverable Asphalt Road Planings’.

All waste will be removed from site with appropriate documentation including Waste Transfer Notes (WTN).

Noise and Vibration

There are approximately seven residential properties within 300m of the scheme, the closest being The Bungalow, Drumine being approximately 80m southeast of the southern extent of the scheme. From the A96, views toward Drumine Cottages which are approximately 200m southeast of the A96, at the southern end of the scheme are obscured by mature trees and dense vegetation. Properties at the northern extent of the scheme also benefit from screening due to trees and vegetation when view from the east.

Works are not located with a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) or a Candidate Quiet Area (CQA).

According to Scotland Noise Map, the at the closest Noise Sensitive Receptor, The Bungalow, Drumine, the baseline noise levels are as follows:

  • 9 LAeq 16h (07:00-23:00)
  • 2 LNight (23:00 – 07:00)

Manual count point 10785 is located along the A96 within the scheme extents. This shows that the AADF in 2023 for all motor vehicles was 15,417 with 1,492 of those being HGVs.

Population and Human Health

A study area of 300m has been used for this assessment as the works are like for like maintenance repairs and are unlikely to impact receptors beyond 300m.

The scheme is located along the A96 between Nairn and Inverness and is surrounded by agricultural land. There are approximately seven residential properties within 300m. The closest is The Bungalow, Drumine, approximately 80m from the A96, which is visible from the carriageway.

There are no bus stops on the A96 within the scheme extents; however, it is used for access between Nairn and Inverness and the local wider area.

The scheme extents are not street lit.

According to the National Cycle Network and Scotland’s Nature Agency indicate there are no National Cycle Routes or Core Paths adjacent to or within the extents of the scheme.

There are access/egress points to residential properties that are within the scheme extents along the carriageway.

No temporary or permanent land-take is required.

Road Drainage and the Water Environment

A desk-based study using SEPA’s Water Classification Hub shows that Moray Firth (ID: 200171) is located approx. 30m north of the works location at its closest point. SEPA has given this waterbody an overall classification of ‘good’.

Inverness and Ardersier groundwater (ID: 150807), the groundwater located within the scheme extends this has an overall status of ‘good’.

The Indicative River and Coastal Flood Map by SEPA shows there is a low risk of surface water flooding, suggesting that each year there is a less than 0.1% of flooding along the carriageway within scheme extents.

Drainage on the A96 where works are to be undertaken consists of gullies which run along either side of carriageway.

Climate

Carbon Goals

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 sets out the target and vision set by the Scottish Government for tackling and responding to climate change (The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009). The Act includes a target of reducing CO2 emissions by 80% before 2050 (from the baseline year 1990). The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019 amended the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to bring the target of reaching net-zero emissions in Scotland forward to 2045 (Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019).

The Scottish Government has since published its indicative Nationally Determined Contribution (iNDC) to set out how it will reach net-zero emissions by 2045, working to reduce emissions of all major greenhouse gases by at least 75% by 2030 (Scotland's contribution to the Paris Agreement: indicative Nationally Determined Contribution - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)). By 2040, the Scottish Government is committed to reducing emissions by 90%, with the aim of reaching net-zero by 2045 at the latest.

Transport Scotland is committed to reducing carbon across Scotland’s transport network and this commitment is being enacted through the Mission Zero for Transport (Mission Zero for transport | Transport Scotland). Transport is the largest contributor to harmful climate emissions in Scotland. In response to the climate emergency, Transport Scotland are committed to reducing their emissions by 75% by 2030 and to a legally binding target of net-zero by 2045.

Amey (working on behalf of Transport Scotland) undertake carbon monitoring. Emissions from our activities are recorded using Transport Scotland’s Carbon Management System.

Further information identifying how Amey will obtain the above Carbon Goals can be viewed within the Carbon Management and Sustainability Plan Roadmap to net-zero: STRNMC – South West. 

Policies and Plans 

This Record of Determination (RoD) has been undertaken in accordance with Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (RSA EIA Regulations) along with Transport Scotland’s Environmental Impact Assessment Guidance (Guidance – Environmental Impact Assessments for road projects (transport.gov.scot)). Relevant guidance, policies and plans accompanied with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB)) LA 101 and LA 104 were used to form this assessment.