Description of local environment

Air quality

The scheme extents cover a largely rural stretch of the A96 carriageway between Nairn and Forres, located within the Moray and Highland council areas. Baseline air quality surrounding the scheme extents is likely to be influenced primarily by traffic flow along the A96, with secondary sources from agricultural activities. Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) in 2024 along the A96, approximately 950m west of the scheme extents (site number: 80007) was counted at 10,827 total vehicles, with 1,012 (9.3%) Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).

Highland and Moray do not currently have any declared Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs). There are no real-time air quality monitoring stations (Air Quality in Scotland) or any sites on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) located within 1km of the scheme extents.

There are four air quality-sensitive receptors located within 200m of the scheme extents, including agricultural and residential properties. The closest is a residential receptor located 15m from the scheme extents at NH 95844 56430.

Cultural heritage

A desktop study has been undertaken using (Historic Scotland Designations and PastMap), where an asset has been listed more than once, its highest designation has been recorded. No statutory or non-statutory cultural heritage features are located within the scheme footprint.

One statutory feature is located within 300m:

  • Feddan Farmhouse, a Category B Listed Building (Reference LB2272) located 75m south at NH 96834 56492.

Three non-statutory features are located within 200m:

  • Blinkbonny, recorded under the Historic Environment Record (HER) (Reference NH95NE0077) located 175m east at NH 97291 56821.
  • Dyke And Moy Parish, HER (Reference NH95NE006) located 55m north at 296012, 856490.
  • Hardmuir Toll, HER (Reference MHG28170) located 80m west at NH 95839 56405.

Landscape and visual effects

Landscape

The scheme lies within a predominantly rural setting, characterised by woodland plantation and rectilinear fields and farms (HLAMap). Hardmuir Wood, a long-established (of plantation origin) woodland designated under the Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) is located approximately 5m north of the scheme extents (Scotland’s Environment Map). No other landscape designations, including Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) are present within 200m.

The scheme falls within the Coastal Farmlands - Moray & Nairn Lowland Hill Ranges Landscape Character Type (LCT 284), characterised by flat to gently undulating farmland, woodland and rural roads.

Visual

There are two constant visual receptors identified, both residential properties. The closest lies approximately 15m from the carriageway and is partially screened by vegetation. The other, is located 80m south, with a side-on view and partial sight of the works. Transient visual receptors include road users (motorists, public transport users) travelling along the A96, who will experience brief and intermittent views of the scheme.

Biodiversity

Protected areas

There are no local, national or European designated biodiversity sites within 2km of the scheme, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Local or National Nature Reserves, Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) or Ramsar sites. However, there is potential hydrological connectivity to the Moray and Nairn Coast SPA (EU Site Code UK9001625) and Ramsar (EU Site Code UK13048) via the Burn of Feddan, approximately 11km downstream (Sitelink).

A Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) will be undertaken prior to the works due to the potential connectivity.

Hardmuir Wood, listed on the AWI is located approximately 5m north of the scheme extents (Scotland’s Environment Map). No TPOs are located within 200m 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

NBN Atlas and Transport Scotland’s Asset Management Performance System (AMPS) has not recorded any injurious weeds or invasive non-native species (INNS) within 500m of the scheme extents.

Geology and soils

Geology

There are no Geological Conservation Review Sites (GCRS), or geological SSSIs located within 300m (Sitelink).

Bedrock geology comprises sedimentary sandstone of the Kingsteps Sandstone Formation, formed between 382.7and 358.9 million years ago (Mya) (British Geological Survey Geology Viewer):

Superficial deposits consist of sedimentary sand and gravel from Glaciofluvial Sheet Deposits, formed during the Quaternary period between116 and 11.8 thousand years ago.

Soils

The local soil type within scheme extents is recorded as humus-iron podzols (Scotland’s Soils).

As all works will be contained to the engineered layers of the existing carriageway, with limited potential for disturbance to geology or soils, this section has been scoped out, requiring no further assessment.

Material assets and waste

Materials

Materials required are as follows:

  • Surfacing, binder and base materials (TS2010 aggregate, AC binder, AC base);
  • Road marking materials/paint;
  • Vehicle fuel;
  • Oil; and

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

Wastes are anticipated to be carriageway planings which will primarily be recycled at a licenced facility, thereby reducing the amount sent to landfill and promoting circular economy practices. No coal tar was recorded from coring investigations.

A Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) will be prepared prior to the works which will detail how resource use and waste arising from the works will be managed throughout the scheme. This is required due to the scheme exceeding £350,000 in value and will help control and reduce the amount of waste produced, resulting in less landfilled waste. 

Noise and vibration

The scheme is located in a predominantly rural area, where baseline noise levels are primarily influenced by traffic on the A96, with secondary sources from agricultural activity. For AADF details, please refer to the Air Quality section above.

Modelled day-evening-night (Lden) noise levels along the scheme extents range from >75dB to 80dB and night noise levels (Lnight) for the period 23:00-07:00 range from >65dB to 70dB. At the closest receptor, baseline noise levels are recorded between >60-65dB. Lden is a noise indicator for overall annoyance based upon annual average A-weighted long-term sound over 24 hours, with a 5 dB(A) penalty for evening noise (19:00-23:00) and a 10 dB(A) penalty for night-time noise (23:00-07:00) (Scotland’s Noise Map).

There are six noise-sensitive receptors (NSRs) comprising agricultural and residential properties located within 300m. The closest is a residential receptor located 15m from the scheme extents at NH 95844 56430.

The works are not located within a Candidate Noise Management Area (CNMA) as defined by the Transportation Noise Action Plan (Road Maps) (TNAP).

Population and human health

There are five residential receptors located within 300m. The closest is a residential receptor located 15m from the scheme extents at NH 95844 56430.

There are no community facilities (recreational, educational, medical or religious) located within 300m. Furthermore, the resurfacing works will be fully contained within the carriageway boundary, requiring no land take from residential, agricultural, business, or community land. Residential and local road access is located within the scheme extents.

There are no Core Paths within or visible from the scheme extents, and no provision for walkers, cyclists, or horse-riders (WCH). No laybys, lighting points or bus stops are located along the scheme extents.

Road drainage and the water environment

Surface water

Road drainage along the scheme extents comprises filter drains and top and side-entry gullies. These are present throughout the southbound verge extents, and partially along the northbound verge.

A statutory river, the Muckle Burn - Lethen to Speedie Burn (ID 20317), is located 345m south of the scheme extents. This watercourse is designated under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) as exhibiting an overall ‘High’ status in 2023 (Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Water Classification Hub). The Burn of Fedden, an unclassified watercourse culverts the A96 within the scheme extents at approximately NH 96707 56552.

Groundwater

The scheme lies within the Culbin Forest Coastal groundwater body (ID 150801) which was classified as having a good overall condition under the WFD in 2023 (SEPA Water Classification Hub).

The scheme is not located within a Scottish Government Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).

Flood risk

The scheme extents are not identified at risk of pluvial flooding, however, the Burn of Fedden, and adjacent carriageway are identified at a high (10%) risk of fluvial flooding (SEPA’s Flood Map).

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 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.