Assessing Environmental Impacts and Effects

The Environmental Impact Assessment has assessed the following topics:

  • Air quality:
    • impacts on air quality from road traffic emissions during construction and operation of the dualled A9.
  • Cultural heritage:
    • archaeological remains, historic buildings and landscapes.
  • Geology, soils, land contamination and groundwater: including private water supplies.
  • Biodiversity:
    • protected species, such as otters, Atlantic salmon and bats
    • habitats
    • ecosystems
    • designated sites including the River Tay SAC
  • Landscape and visual: impacts on the landscape and on views experienced from:
    • buildings
    • outdoor public areas
    • the proposed scheme
    • local roads
    • WCH routes
  • Material assets and waste: impacts relating to:
    • the depletion of natural resources
    • consumption of resources
    • management of waste
  • Population – land use:
    • private property and housing
    • community land and assets
    • development land and businesses
    • agricultural land holdings
  • Human Health:
    • health profiles
    • health determinants
    • likely health outcomes, including those on vulnerable groups
  • Road drainage and the water environment:
    • rivers and streams
    • flood risk
    • erosion risk
    • sediment flow in rivers
    • water quality
  • Noise and vibration:
    • impacts on noise sensitive receptors, including residential properties, during construction and operation.
  • Population – accessibility:
    • WCH routes such as rights of way and hill-walking routes; cycle routes; and equestrian routes.
  • Climate:
    • impact of the proposed scheme on climate (greenhouse gas emissions) and vulnerability of the proposed scheme to climate change (adaptation).